Every Monday morning at 7:10 am, I am a guest contributor on CHOM 97.7 FM radio out of Montreal (home base). It’s not a long segment – about 10 minutes every week – about everything that is happening in the world of technology and digital media. The good folks at CHOM 97.7 FM are posting these segments weekly on i Heart Radio, if you’re interested in hearing more of me blathering away about what’s going on in the digital world. I’m really excited about this opportunity, because this is the radio station that I grew up listening to, and it really is a fun treat to be invited to the Mornings Rock with Terry DiMonte morning show. The segment is called, CTRL ALT Delete with Mitch Joel.
This week we discussed:
On the Homefront: Here, in Montreal, a couple was “shaken” after an Amazondelivery person entered their home. Crazy. Intelcom Express (a delivery service that Amazon subcontracts to) apparently dropped off a package inside the home of a Hochelaga-Maisonneuve resident. After the driver rang the bell to no answer (the husband/father was home, but was tending to his young child), the driver decided to try the unlocked front door, and was caught by the homeowner while he was leaving a package inside the house. The company has apologized and the driver has been fired.
Snapchat Dysmorphia is a thing. Sadly. Because Snapchat (and Instagram) offer filters, it also offers people a version of themselves with flawless skin, different shapes of eyes, etc…. Now, people think that maybe they should like that all of the time? Self-image specialists and doctors are sounding the alarm. These selfie filters have given rise to people seeking plastic surgery, especially those dealing with the medical disorder of body dysmorphia. Yes, people want cosmetic surgery to look like the filtered version of themselves on social media.
Uber (and Lyft) continue to disrupt, while traditional business models (and the governments that regulate them) fight back. Last week, New York became the first US city to cap services like Uber and Lyft by freezing new car licenses for one year, while the city looks at the impact these ride-hailing services have had. The thinking is that these services have caused much congestion, traffic and problems (which runs counter to the company’s intent). It is doubtful that New York will be the only city to do this.