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I could see an argument that the "viral challenge" is forcing them to change it. The manufacturers were aware of the problem, and doing the absolute minimum to
by gwill 4y ago
I could see an argument that the "viral challenge" is forcing them to change it. The manufacturers were aware of the problem, and doing the absolute minimum to address it. They were giving out steering wheel locks and offering to do a software fix for anywhere between $170 and $500. The issue spread through the "tiktok challenge" and that's forced them to make a move toward helping customers.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- TaylorAlexander 4y agoI guess it’s more like “companies forced to fix known flaw pointed out in viral TikTok trend” or something.
- hdjjhhvvhga 4y agoThat's spot on. But the question for The Verge is, would you click on that headline?
- xoa 4y agoI mean, yeah? That's actually still an interesting phenomenon that combines multiple hot button/trending things. I think in this case a more accurate headline is actually still plenty clickable. They simply didn't do a great job on the wording this time. It happens.
- b112 4y agoOr is it a paid story, with tiktok struggling to stay in the US, and this is a "tiktok good for all" story?
- TaylorAlexander 4y agoTrick question, I would not click on a link to The Verge.
- ssgodderidge 4y agoWhy not? From a tech journalism perspective, I find them as useful as any other news site. I’m genuinely curious why you don’t like them
- justeleblanc 4y agoIs it really that different from the current headline?
- TaylorAlexander 4y agoThe current headline suggests that TikTok is the reason for the update. At first I thought this was due to a software change in some tiktok app or something. But the reason for the change is the flaw, and tiktok users are merely calling attention to the existing flaw.
- SAI_Peregrinus 4y agoThey went for years without fixing the flaw. Only TikTok exposing the flaw widely caused enough outcry to make them change.
- autoexec 4y agoIt's like how it often takes public shaming on twitter to get a company to act like they should have done in the first place. It's not social media that causes the problem, it's just that the continuous bad "press" makes it inconvenient enough that a company might expend some meaningful effort into addressing their issue for a change. I don't think a lot of companies really care about their reputation or about public perception. Some of the most hated companies on Earth continue to be enormously successful and shitty, but with enough attention over a long enough period of time and they'll often do something to make people shut up about their bad behavior on social media so that we'll move on to the next distraction and they can go back to being terrible.
- at-fates-hands 4y agoMy best friend is a KIA mechanic. Says they've known about this for a long time and simply refused to update it - which he said would be super easy to do a recall and have them simply put in the engine immobilizer. I think you're right though. They tried ignoring the problem until it popped up on social media and cities have see huge increases in thefts for both Kia's and Hyundai's ever since.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- officeplant 4y agoAFAIK the real kick in their ass to finally get this going is insurance companies like State Farm refusing to insure their vehicles on a state by state basis.[1] I own a 2020 Kia Sportage and I just got my offer in the mail today to go to Kia and get a free software upgrade right as I notice my insurance shooting up $40. Of note I'm in Louisiana where they are facing state farms new policy. [1]https://www.wdsu.com/article/louisiana-state-farm-car-insurance-kia-hyundai/42747781 https://www.wdsu.com/article/louisiana-state-farm-car-insura...