Power User with Taylor Lorenz How the 00s changed the tech world forever
22 snips
Feb 27, 2025 Colette Shade, author of the bestselling book *Y2K: How the 2000s Became Everything*, dives into the transformative tech landscape of the 2000s. She reflects on the dot-com bubble and the whirlwind of early social media, illustrating how those chaotic days shaped today's hyper-surveilled, algorithm-driven world. Colette discusses the optimism surrounding early tech, the aesthetic influence of colorful gadgets like the iMac, and the cultural shifts that followed the 2008 financial crisis, emphasizing the need for accountability in the industry.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Uncle's Startup Success
- Colette Shade's uncle became wealthy through the dot-com boom after his startup was acquired by Nokia.
- This personal anecdote highlights the sudden wealth creation during that era.
Dot-Com Legitimacy
- The Netscape IPO legitimized the internet as a money-making platform, giving rise to figures like Marc Andreessen.
- This fueled the narrative of the young, nerdy entrepreneur striking it rich through merit and innovation.
Pets.com Excess
- Pets.com, backed by Jeff Bezos, epitomized dot-com excess with its Super Bowl ads and Macy's Day Parade float.
- Its downfall demonstrates the era's overspending and lack of infrastructure.