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Opinion

Insights and analysis from expert contributors

Mike Sullivan

Can Netflix Win the Contest for Connected TV Ad Dollars?

The risks to Netflix’s future might be greater than they seem.

By

Andrew A. Rosen

Rosen is the author of PARQOR, a newsletter about the post-streaming wars media convergence.

Jul 25, 2022 9:19am PDT · 1 comment

Art by Josh Brill

Climate Tech Investors Can’t Afford to Repeat Past Mistakes

Hardware innovation doesn’t happen on a software development timeline, which means it takes a different kind of funding.

By

Duffuor is a general partner at Azolla Ventures.

Jul 20, 2022 9:00am PDT · 2 comments

Art by Laurent Hrybyk

The U.S. Is Writing a New Digital Doctrine

Russia’s war in Ukraine has pushed the U.S. into a new era in defense of both cybersecurity and the open internet.

By

Kornbluh is the director and senior fellow of the Digital Innovation and Democracy Initiative at the German Marshall Fund.

Jul 13, 2022 9:00am PDT · 1 comment

Art Shutterstock; Mike Sullivan

The Big Contradiction at the Heart of the Tech Downturn

By Aaron Harris · Jul 6, 2022 9:00am PDT · 16 comments

Art Shutterstock; Mike Sullivan

The Big Contradiction at the Heart of the Tech Downturn

Sure, the public markets are grim. But venture capitalists still have plenty of money to invest, and the smart ones will be on the hunt for good deals.

By

Harris is a co-founder of Magid & Co. and a former partner at Y Combinator.

Jul 6, 2022 9:00am PDT · 16 comments

Art by Haejin Park

A Girl Killed Herself. It Took TikTok Six Months to Remove Her Account.

The teenager’s mother filled out webform after webform. Meanwhile, the girl’s posts from a mental health facility racked up thousands of views.

By

Challenger leads creative writing workshops online for women and teens.

Jun 29, 2022 9:05am PDT · 5 comments

The Question Plaguing Connected TV: Who’s Watching?

Advertisers, streaming services, and device makers need to work together, but they're retreating to their walled gardens.

By

Andrew A. Rosen

Rosen is the author of PARQOR, a newsletter about the post-streaming wars media convergence.

Jun 24, 2022 9:00am PDT · 2 comments

Illustration by Josh Brill

What Venture Investors Get Wrong About China

The government crackdown on the private tutoring industry was an object lesson in the need to pay attention to policymakers.

By

Ming Liao is the founding partner of Prospect Avenue Capital, a China tech-focused growth fund.

Jun 21, 2022 9:00am PDT · 4 comments

Art by Mike Sullivan

Musk Will Take Questions from Twitter Employees—Twitter Should Answer His

By Andrea Stroppa · Jun 16, 2022 8:00am PDT · 7 comments

Art by Mike Sullivan

Musk Will Take Questions from Twitter Employees—Twitter Should Answer His

Independent studies suggest the share of fake, spam and bot accounts is far greater than Twitter’s 5% estimate, and some accounts may face “shadow bans.”

By

Andrea Stroppa

Andrea Stroppa is a cybersecurity researcher.

Jun 16, 2022 8:00am PDT · 7 comments

Art by Mike Sullivan

Democracy Deserves Better Algorithms

Social media companies have the power to promote the truth and defeat lies. But they aren’t using it.

By

McGowan is the founder and publisher of Courier Newsroom.

Jun 2, 2022 9:00am PDT · 9 comments

Art by Mike Sullivan

Five Ways Web3 Companies Will Have to Adapt to Survive

The next few months—at least—will be darker in crypto land.

By

Tunguz is a managing director at Redpoint Ventures.

May 27, 2022 9:00am PDT · 8 comments

2022 NBCUniversal Upfront in New York City. Photo by Getty

The Upfronts Model Isn’t Dead Yet

Why in-person deal making still matters, even with ad-supported Netflix and Disney+ entering the scene.

By

Andrew A. Rosen

Rosen is the author of PARQOR, a newsletter about the post-streaming wars media convergence.

May 25, 2022 9:00am PDT

Art by Mike Sullivan

VR Is Failing the Very People It Could Benefit Most

By Brittan Heller · May 19, 2022 9:00am PDT · 1 comment

Art by Mike Sullivan

VR Is Failing the Very People It Could Benefit Most

Virtual experiences can help users transcend their physical limitations—but only if those users can access them.

By

Heller is an attorney who specializes in law, technology and human rights.

May 19, 2022 9:00am PDT · 1 comment

Sundar Pichai, Mark Zuckerberg and Rupert Murdoch. Photos by AP; Bloomberg. Art by Mike Sullivan

Meta and Alphabet Should Get Used to Paying for News

The two tech giants are gearing up for another fight as Canada takes up Australia-style legislation to protect journalism.

By

Bill Grueskin

Grueskin is on the faculty at Columbia Journalism School.

May 16, 2022 9:00am PDT · 6 comments

Clockwise from top left: Netflix employees walk out in support of transgender employees; Disney employees and demonstrators rally against Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill; Google employees protest the company's handling of sexual misconduct allegations; Activision Blizzard employees protest the company's response to a sexual discrimination lawsuit. Photos by Bloomberg; AP

When Rights Are on the Line, Words Aren’t Enough

With the Supreme Court apparently on the brink of overturning Roe v. Wade, employees want to know their companies will protect them.

By

Evelyn R. Carter

Carter is president of Paradigm, a diversity, equity, and inclusion company.

May 11, 2022 9:00am PDT · 6 comments

How Elon Musk’s Twitter Could Boost State Censorship

Part of respecting free speech is resisting the law when necessary.

By

Funk is research director for technology and democracy at Freedom House.

May 5, 2022 9:00am PDT · 6 comments

Photos by Bloomberg. Art by Mike Sullivan.

Netflix’s Best Advertising Bet Won’t Require Software

By Andrew A. Rosen · Apr 22, 2022 9:00am PDT · 7 comments

Photos by Bloomberg. Art by Mike Sullivan.

Netflix’s Best Advertising Bet Won’t Require Software

Let the other streamers invest in precision-targeted digital ad delivery. The old network TV model may be a better fit for the market leader.

By

Andrew A. Rosen

Rosen is the author of PARQOR, a newsletter about the post-streaming wars media convergence.

Apr 22, 2022 9:00am PDT · 7 comments

Art by Haejin Park

Pretty LinkedIn Profiles Are Overrated

Success is impossible without risk, and taking risks means making mistakes.

By

Hope Cochran

Cochran is an investor at Madrona Venture Group.

Apr 6, 2022 9:00am PDT · 15 comments

Art by Mike Sullivan

We Need a 911 for the Metaverse

Reporting harassment and abuse in virtual reality should be a reflex, not a puzzle.

By

Heller is an attorney who specializes in law, technology and human rights.

Mar 30, 2022 9:00am PDT · 1 comment

Illustration by Jesus Escudero

Congress’s Big Antitrust Bills Have a Problem: The Happy Customer

Conflicting political crosscurrents are making it impossible to protect competition in ways that also protect consumers.

By

Adam Kovacevich

Kovacevich is the CEO of Chamber of Progress.

Mar 23, 2022 9:00am PDT · 4 comments

Art by Mike Sullivan

A Vibe Shift Is Brewing in Streaming

By Andrew A. Rosen · Mar 18, 2022 9:00am PDT

Art by Mike Sullivan

A Vibe Shift Is Brewing in Streaming

Are Disney and HBO missing it with their pivot to ads?

By

Andrew A. Rosen

Rosen is the author of PARQOR, a newsletter about the post-streaming wars media convergence.

Mar 18, 2022 9:00am PDT