The Future, Now and Then

The Future, Now and Then Substack explores the intersection of historical digital futures, contemporary tech culture, political discourse, and the ethical challenges surrounding emerging technologies and platform moderation. It critically examines techno-optimism, the implications of AI, the creator economy, and reflects on the socio-political dimensions of technology.

Digital Culture and History Political Communication Strategies Technology and Society Ethics in Technology AI and Machine Learning Tech Industry Critique Moderation and Platform Policies Future Predictions and Speculations Creator Economy Social Media Dynamics

The hottest Substack posts of The Future, Now and Then

And their main takeaways

On the Oberlin/Gibson's lawsuit: social facts versus legal facts

22 implied HN points • 08 Sep 22
  1. Gibson's bakery had a reputation for racism based on social facts rather than legal evidence.
  2. The student protest and lawsuit highlighted the clash between social beliefs and legal requirements.
  3. The Oberlin/Gibson's lawsuit sparked debate on campus free speech and the consequences of student activism.

*When* Was the Blogosphere?

24 implied HN points • 18 Jul 22
  1. The blogosphere was a significant part of the digital future, driving Web 2.0 and a new online participatory culture.
  2. The blogosphere transitioned from a digital future to a fond memory of the shared digital past, replaced by algorithmically-curated online spaces.
  3. The end of the blogosphere can be attributed to competition from social media, challenges like the failure of Google Reader, and the adjustment of existing institutions to the disruptive technology.

Tech optimism isn't a solution to the climate crisis

22 implied HN points • 26 Jul 22
  1. Tech optimism is not a solution to the climate crisis.
  2. We need more than just technological solutions to address climate change.
  3. Relying solely on tech billionaires and breakthroughs is not a sustainable strategy.

Will Netflix be alright?

22 implied HN points • 25 Jul 22
  1. Netflix's stock value has drastically decreased despite being a solid company.
  2. Tech companies like Netflix are evaluated based on both actual business performance and future growth potential.
  3. Netflix's business model revolves around subscriber acquisition and retention, facing challenges from competition and revenue limitations.

A newsletter version of this newsletter

19 implied HN points • 01 Sep 22
  1. A new AI-focused Substack newsletter launched by Princeton Computer Scientists is worth checking out.
  2. The culture of Silicon Valley, as seen through Y Combinator, is being critiqued as potentially problematic.
  3. Concerns persist over longtermism philosophy's implications on tech and power dynamics in society.
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From the WIRED archives: The trajectory of any emerging technology bends toward money

2 HN points • 04 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Emerging Tech Capitalism
  1. The predictions made by technologists in the 90s and 00s often underestimate the impact of capitalism on technological development.
  2. Experts tend to focus on the potential of technology without adequately considering the influence of revenue streams.
  3. To shape a better future, it's crucial to recognize and address the significant role of money in driving the trajectory of emerging technologies.

The new Apple ad, and what has been missing from most depictions of the digital future

10 HN points • 08 Dec 22
  1. Apple's new advertisement focuses on how technologies integrate into people's lives, rather than abstract concepts like the metaverse or cryptocurrency.
  2. Consumer tech should be centered on fitting into the lives of actual people, showing concrete use-cases that add value.
  3. There has been a decade of stability in the tech sector, but the future looks poised for significant change, with the tech industry facing a financial reckoning.

Facebook might be in real trouble this time

13 implied HN points • 28 Jul 22
  1. Employee morale at Meta is low, leading to potential talent loss.
  2. Meta's grand plan for a Metaverse is not seeing success as expected.
  3. Facebook and Instagram are struggling to compete with TikTok in user experience.

The steep, sloping path down from here

15 implied HN points • 03 May 22
  1. The Supreme Court's decisions are leading to a worrying future in America post-Roe v. Wade.
  2. Facing a choice between extremes like Gilead or violence due to fundamental rights being eroded.
  3. The erosion of trust in political institutions and potential consequences of a disempowered public.

What will it take to actually change the Republican Party?

13 implied HN points • 09 Feb 22
  1. The Republican Party needs to change its leadership and approach to governance.
  2. Historical elections like 2010 show that party networks can change slowly after repeated losses.
  3. Democrats may need to win decisively and repeatedly to create a significant impact on the Republican Party's direction.

On Elon Musk giving Twitter "The Ultimatum: Acquire or Move On."

11 implied HN points • 14 Apr 22
  1. Elon Musk's attempt to purchase Twitter raises concerns about his intentions and impact on the platform.
  2. Musk's proposed solutions for Twitter's issues are considered mundane and lack innovative ideas.
  3. Critics argue that Musk, despite his wealth, may not have the best interests of Twitter users at heart.

The future, now and then.

15 implied HN points • 17 Jun 21
  1. The newsletter discusses old and current digital futures that didn't turn out as expected.
  2. It covers the intersection of technology and politics, focusing on stories about the digital future.
  3. The author also writes about the existential threats to American democracy and the current state of democratic decline.

On Situational Ethics and Political Activism

6 implied HN points • 12 May 22
  1. In political activism, all ethics are situational ethics.
  2. Evaluate tactics based on context, circumstances, and power relationships involved.
  3. Consider the motivations behind actions: 'You're doing _this_ for _that_?'

Someone Is Wrong on the Internet: Yglesias Edition

11 implied HN points • 12 Jul 21
  1. Matt Yglesias criticizes the climate movement's tactics and supports a bipartisan infrastructure bill.
  2. Emily Atkins emphasizes the urgency of climate action and the rare opportunity presented by the infrastructure bill.
  3. The history of the environmental movement shows the challenges in prioritizing climate legislation and the need for new approaches.

Tech futurism's blind spot

3 HN points • 23 Sep 22
  1. Silicon Valley tech visionaries are focused on hyping up the next digital revolution while ignoring the urgent issue of the climate crisis.
  2. The proposed tech futures - metaverse, web3, and artificial intelligence - fail to address the impact of the climate crisis in their development and promotion.
  3. The tech industry, with its immense power and resources, needs to prioritize tackling the climate crisis rather than deflecting it as someone else's problem to solve.

What Facebook's animatronic dog gets right.

4 implied HN points • 16 Feb 22
  1. The Metaverse can offer a nostalgic experience, recreating good memories with friends in a compelling way.
  2. Consumer technology advertisements should effectively communicate the social role of the product to the target audience.
  3. Crypto ads, like the recent Super Bowl commercials, struggle to explain the social role or purpose of the product, contrasting with the clarity seen in other tech ads.