Reed Hastings says Big Tech should get used to being hated — like Big Pharma

Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings suggested that big tech companies should embrace the fact that they are often met with public disdain, similar to how pharmaceutical companies are perceived by the public. In an interview with On with Kara Swisher, Hastings likened powerful Silicon Valley executives to airline and banking executives, all of which are influential and widely disliked.

He pointed out that Americans have grown increasingly unhappy with tech CEOs, and new films are shedding light on their less admirable aspects. Hastings acknowledged that tech companies have developed remarkable products, such as COVID vaccines, but still face public backlash over high drug prices. He also compared big tech executives to those in the banking and airline industries, noting that they are powerful, consequential, and largely disliked.

Swisher brought up Hollywood's recent focus on exposing certain ugly chapters in tech history, through documentaries such as You Can See Everything, The Social Reckoning, Musk, and Artificial. Hastings stated that a public tumble is not uncommon for large industries, but he believes that Silicon Valley companies should strive to cure diseases, as this could help improve their public image.