“Down With Big Tech!” … Sent From My iPhone

You’ve seen it before. A rant on social media: “Down with Big Tech!” Followed by that glorious little tagline at the bottom — Sent from my iPhone.

The irony writes itself. Virtually everything you know, love, and rely on today was started by a woman or a man who took a risk. They built something from nothing, often in the face of mockery or doubt. If those risks succeed, and that person ends up ridiculously wealthy, their fortune is not some cosmic injustice. It’s a direct reflection of the collective good they’ve provided to millions who voluntarily exchanged their dollars for that product or service.

Money in a free market is not awarded by accident. It’s a scoreboard. The more people you help, the more points you get. Amazon didn’t become Amazon because Jeff Bezos had compromising photos of us all. It became Amazon because it made life easier for hundreds of millions of people, and we kept clicking Buy Now.

If you truly believe there’s such a thing as “too wealthy” — which, objectively, there is not — the solution is painfully simple: vote with your wallet. Stop using the great goods and services provided by these innovators. Delete your apps. Toss the phone. Walk to the store. Mail a letter. Start your own company if you think you can do better. But don’t rage against the machine while plugged into it like a life-support system you refuse to unplug from.

Risk-takers — whether men or women — have been creating value since the dawn of commerce. Sometimes they win small. Sometimes they win big. But every time, their wealth exists because people like you and me decided that what they offered was worth the trade. You don’t have to like that. But you should at least be honest about it.

So, next time you feel the urge to type “Down with Big Tech!”, pause. Look at the glowing rectangle in your hand. And maybe, just maybe, ask yourself if you’re willing to give it up… or if the real problem is that you wish you’d been the one to build it.