Tech Won't Save Us The Forgotten Story of How Conservatives Shaped the Internet w/ Becca Lewis
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Nov 21, 2024 Becca Lewis, a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University, dives into the right-wing's influence on the internet from the 1990s. She unpacks the emergence of 'reactionary futurism' and its ties to traditional values, showcasing how these ideologies shaped Silicon Valley. The discussion touches on historical figures like George Gilder and contrasts their views with progressive visions of the internet. Lewis also highlights the ongoing polarization exacerbated by disinformation, urging a reevaluation of technology's societal role.
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Right-Wing Tech Influence
- The tech industry's current right-wing political stances aren't new.
- These ideas have been present and influential within the industry for a long time, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s.
Reactionary Futurism
- Reactionary futurism aimed to use technology to restore a pre-feminist social order.
- This movement, distinct from Californian Ideology, sought to reinforce traditional values through digital advancements.
Gilder's Transformation
- George Gilder, initially an anti-feminist provocateur, transitioned into a tech evangelist in the 1990s.
- He viewed entrepreneurship as a way to restore traditional masculinity and the male breadwinner role.
