Tim Cook, at Apple, Takes a Very Welcome Broadside Against Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook

Yahoo!!  (not the website).

Yes, Tim Cook, over at Apple, took this broadside at Mark Zuckerberg and his Facebook this week (from Inc. Magazine).

Tim Cook May Have Just Ended Facebook

What happens when an unstoppable force hits an immovable object?

In a recent speech at Brussels' International Data Privacy Day, Apple CEO Tim Cook went on the offensive against Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook. Cook's speech seems to be a direct response to Facebook's recent attack on Apple, in which the world's largest social network took out full-page ads in several newspapers attacking Apple's new privacy changes.

But what's most fascinating is that Cook took direct aim at Facebook without ever mentioning the company by name.

Just check out the following excerpt:

"Technology does not need vast troves of personal data stitched together across dozens of websites and apps in order to succeed. Advertising existed and thrived for decades without it, and we're here today because the path of least resistance is rarely the path of wisdom.

If a business is built on misleading users on data exploitation, on choices that are no choices at all, then it does not deserve our praise. It deserves reform.

We should not look away from the bigger picture and a moment of rampant disinformation and conspiracy theory is juiced by algorithms. We can no longer turn a blind eye to a theory of technology that says all engagement is good engagement, the longer the better, and all with the goal of collecting as much data as possible.

Too many are still asking the question, 'How much can we get away with?' When they need to be asking, 'What are the consequences?'

What are the consequences of prioritizing conspiracy theories and violent incitement simply because of the high rates of engagement?

What are the consequences of not just tolerating but rewarding content that undermines public trust in life-saving vaccinations?

What are the consequences of seeing thousands of users joining extremist groups and then perpetuating an algorithm that recommends even more?

It is long past time to stop pretending that this approach doesn't come with a cause. A polarization of lost trust, and yes, of violence.

A social dilemma cannot be allowed to become a social catastrophe."

The fact that Cook doesn't name Facebook somehow increases its impact. Because as you hear Cook's 's speech, you can't help but immediately think of the house that Zuckerberg built.

If you're wondering how Apple and Facebook ended up at odds, you can read more of the details here. But the reality is these two tech giants have been heading towards a major conflict for quite some time.

The problem is that Apple's and Facebook's business philosophies are diametrically opposed to each other:

Apple is a lifestyle brand. And part of the lifestyle Apple sells is users having more control over their privacy.

Facebook, on the other hand, is in the data business. The more data they collect on users, the more effectively they can sell targeted ads.

But collecting and selling all that data comes at great cost, as Cook highlights. "The end result of all of this is that you are no longer the customer," said Cook. "You are the product."

Cook went on to further highlight the differences in Apple's and Facebook's philosophies, in no uncertain terms.

"We believe that ethical technology is technology that works for you," said Cook. "It's technology that helps you sleep, not keeps you up. It tells you when you've had enough. It gives you space to create or draw or write or learn, not refresh just one more time."

At first glimpse, it might appear that Apple and Facebook are on diverging paths. But in reality, they're on a collision course.

So, what does happen when an unstoppable force hits an immovable object?

One of them gets destroyed.

I personally think the author is overstating the effects Tim Cook and Apple will do here to Zuckerberg and Facebook but hey, it's an attack on Facebonkers and people are paying attention so it's a good thing, for sure.

Additional link:

Mark Zuckerberg’s squabble with Tim Cook

Apple CEO Tim Cook links Facebook's business model to violence

The Many Benefits of Higher Wages and a Better Paid Employee

Companies and people in companies seem to, more often than not, only think of the costs of higher wages to and for a company. They seem to virtually never consider the benefits of them. So herewith, at least some of those benefits. They are at least several, if not many, and they are huge.

--First, if a company offers a higher, better wage than other companies, they will attract better employees. They will attract employees who are more experienced, who have more and better education and who, frankly, have better manners. These are no small things. The benefits of those, alone, to the company are great. The company gets that better employee, then may have to, likely, train them less because they already have both the knowledge and experience needed, so the company reduces costs and expenses already.

--Second, with a better, higher wage, the company can KEEP that better employee, those better employees. The cost savings here are, again, huge, and many. With keeping that employee, instead of having high turnover in the company, the company can cut the costs of advertising for new employees--no small thing---and the company can also reduce the costs of constantly training new employees since fewer people needed to do the work are going out the door. These are, again, huge costs cut and so, much more money can go to either growing business or straight to the bottom line, straight to profit and profits, the goal of all companies.

--Third, better, retained employees create a far better experience for the customers. With a better, more experienced, more educated, even more mature, more well-adjusted employee, one that is also retained, the experience for the customer is far more consistent and projects more and better just what, exactly, the company is about. This employee, these employees project the company culture and rules far better. There is far better and greater consistency for the customer and their experience with the customer. This ensures things are done right, the first time, and far more ensures that the customer will stay with the company but that they will also far more likely grow with the company and then that they will also help the company grow by seeing to it others come to the company. With their good and positive experience, they're far more likely to recommend the company to others. This helps to ensure growth, clearly.

These are just three quick but great reasons and examples of how a better paid employee creates a better company, a better company experience and so, finally, a more profitable company.

Companies that only look at the costs of employees and not the benefits, not looking at how a good employee, better paid, can actually help the company and help the company grow and help the company's profit and profits is a foolish, short-sighted company, for sure.

In employees, as with all products, the age old saying is also true here:

You get what you pay for.

And you pay for what you get.

Companies can't get or keep employees, good employees, if those employees can't afford, literally, to work there.

Links:

How Paying Employees More Can Make You More Profitable

Pay Higher Wages, Earn More Profit

Ten Reasons Workers Should Be Paid More

Higher wages for higher corporate profits 

Raising Wages to Raise Profits