Episode 137 — Addicted to Facebook

Episode 137 — Addicted to Facebook

Author: Ben Thompson / James Allworth January 19, 2018 Duration: 1:06:26
Ben and James discuss Facebook’s algorithm change, the difference between Facebook and Snapchat, and what the company’s motivations might be. Presented by WordPress.com: Get 15% off on a new site by visiting WordPress.com/Exponent. Links Ben Thompson: Facebook’s Motivations — Stratechery Ben Thompson: Mobile Makes Facebook Just an App; That’s Great News — Stratechery Ben Thompson: Facebook and the Feed — Stratechery Ben Thompson: Facebook, Phones, and Phonebooks — Stratechery Ben Thompson: Popping the Publishing Bubble — Stratechery Ben Thompson: Defining Aggregators — Stratechery Tyler Cowen: A Simple Theory of Moore’s Law and Social Media — Marginal Revolution Farhad Manjoo: It’s … Continue reading Episode 137 — Addicted to Facebook

Hosted by Ben Thompson and James Allworth, Exponent is a conversation that digs into the deeper currents shaping our world. The discussion moves beyond mere gadget reviews or Silicon Valley hype, focusing instead on how technology fundamentally reshapes business models, industries, and the very fabric of society. Thompson, known for his Stratechery blog on tech business strategy, and Allworth, a writer and co-author of "How Will You Measure Your Life," bring distinct but complementary perspectives. Each episode feels like a thoughtful dialogue, where ideas are examined from multiple angles. You’ll hear them analyze how a single platform can upend entire sectors, or debate the societal trade-offs that come with rapid innovation. This podcast is for anyone who wants to understand not just what is happening in tech, but why it matters. The conversations are detailed and often forward-looking, connecting strategic insights with their broader human implications. Listening feels like being a fly on the wall for a compelling weekly discussion between two sharp observers, making sense of the complex forces driven by technology.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Exponent
Podcast Episodes
Episode 177 — Principle Stacks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:45
Ben and James discuss the origins of the First Amendment, what a culture of free expression means, and Facebook’s ad policy. Links Ben Thompson: Tech and Liberty — Stratechery Randall Munroe: Free Speech — xkcd Pat Kerr:…
Episode 176 — The Second Estate Era [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:41
Ben and James discuss how the Internet’s impact will be like the printing press’s, and what that means for how we should think about Facebook. Note: We apologize for the slight audio discrepancy between Ben and James Lin…
Episode 175 — The Abyss Stares Back [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:33
Ben and James discuss the NBA and Apple in China and the long-term implications of doing business with authoritarian governments. Links Ben Thompson: The China Cultural Clash — Stratechery r/HongKong: List Of Companies U…
Episode 174 — Distracted at Facebook [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:10
Ben and James discuss Facebook from multiple angles, including child sexual abuse material, encryption, Oculus, and a leaked all-hands meeting. Links Ben Thompson: Friction — Stratechery The Internet Is Overrun With Imag…
Episode 173 — The Exponent IPO [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:19
Ben and James discuss Cloudflare and what it is like going through an IPO, as well as what has gone wrong with WeWork. Links Ben Thompson: Netflix and the Conservation of Attractive Profits — Stratechery Ben Thompson: Cl…
Episode 172 — Game of Phones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:37
Ben and James discuss WWDC keynote and why it was so important for Apple to move past the iPhone. Links Ben Thompson: Apple’s Audacity — Stratechery Ben Thompson: Apple’s Middle Age — Stratechery Letter from Tim Cook to…
Episode 171 — An Intra-west Debate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:34
Ben and James discuss the U.S.-China trade war and the fundamental issues facing both countries generally and tech specifically. Links Ben Thompson: China, Leverage, and Values — Stratechery We Were Pirates, Too — Foreig…
Episode 170 — A Perfect Meal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:43
Ben and James discuss the Zoom and Slack IPOs in the context of Microsoft’s current success and long-term challenges. Links Ben Thompson: Microsoft, Slack, Zoom, and the SaaS Opportunity — Stratechery Ben Thompson: The S…
Episode 169 — Family-Friendly Disney [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:54
Ben and James discuss Disney’s recent announcements on streaming and what it says about not just TV but strategy broadly in the Internet era. Links Ben Thompson: Disney and the Future of TV — Stratechery Ben Thompson: Di…
Episode 168 — A Community of Loonies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:57
Ben and James discuss why Internet regulation is coming, why it is probably necessary, and how it should be targeted. Links Ben Thompson: A Regulatory Framework for the Internet — Stratechery New Livestreaming Legislatio…