Benn Jordan longs for the days of tech that didn’t spy on you
Benn Jordan may have initially gained notoriety for his music as Flashbulb and later, reviewing synths and effects pedals on YouTube under Benn and Gear. But about five years ago, Benn decided to tak…
Benn Jordan may have initially gained notoriety for his music as Flashbulb and later, reviewing synths and effects pedals on YouTube under Benn and Ge
Read Full Story at The Verge →Why This Matters
The tech industry's pivot toward surveillance capitalism has been met with growing resistance from users who remember a time when digital tools prioritized functionality over data extraction. Benn Jordan's public longing for pre-surveillance tech culture underscores a broader cultural tension: the clash between corporate data monetization and the desire for autonomy in an increasingly interconnected world.
Background Context
Before the rise of targeted advertising and algorithmic curation, many tech users—especially in creative fields—valued products and platforms for their utility rather than their ability to track behavior. Jordan's career path, from electronic musician to gear reviewer, places him at a unique intersection of both the creative and technical communities, where the erosion of trust in tech has been particularly acute.
What Happens Next
As more creators and users like Jordan vocalize their discontent, the tech industry may face intensified pressure to offer alternatives that don't rely on invasive data collection. The question remains whether this sentiment will coalesce into a meaningful movement with tangible policy or market changes, or if it will remain a niche critique of the status quo.
Bigger Picture
Jordan's perspective reflects a generational shift among early tech adopters who now view the industry through a more skeptical lens. This aligns with broader trends in privacy advocacy, open-source movements, and the pushback against Big Tech's dominance, suggesting that the demand for ethical technology may finally be gaining real momentum.
