It's about control. Ads are a weak(ish) form of control (more powerful than we believe) but only one of many. TBH I've hardly heard the word "techlash" since

It's about control. Ads are a weak(ish) form of control (more powerful than we believe) but only one of many. TBH I've hardly heard the word "techlash" since I cited it in Digital Vegan as an Economist headline. It never really got traction. But the article is correct in identifying it as a moment of reflective realisation rather than a substantial movement. And perhaps in locating it in a dislike of Big-Tech personalities as much as any experienced harm. Today I'm more cognisant of "peak tech", a tangible bend on the curve that seems to be about limits of attention, practical connectivity, exhaustion with gadgets and a limit on how many times the same app can be re-branded "Now with AI". On the other hand there remains a more serious branch to contemporary tech critique. For that I prefer the term "Technofascism", because it's got a bit more fuck-you built into it. Despite widespread awareness there's precious little action beyond Software Freedom, or ability to turn to meaningful choice and "take-back tech". I suppose a regular one-minute-hate of screaming insults at Mark Zuckerberg makes a good safety valve to distract from the real FaceBoot.