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A lot of people are getting fed up with how powerful people and institutions benefit themselves while things get worse by the day for the rest of us. Especially younger generations. But it seems to me that choices made by everyday peopleoften in how they spend their dollarshave the effect of increasing inequity. Middle and working class people buy into systems that increase unfairness and tilt the scales further towards the wealthiest in our society. Take Robinhood, for example. When the investment platform launched in 2013 as the first major broker eliminating commissions and minimums for stock trading, it positioned itself as democratizing finance for all. The supposedly disruptive trading platform got 56% of its 2024 revenue from payment for order flow from large financial institutions. Another 12% came from Citadel, an extremely successful hedge fund controlling 40% of trades from nonprofessional individual investors, called retail investors. Yet it purported to democratize investing for retail investors. When 56% of revenue comes from one type of financial institution, it suggests that those are Robinhoods real customers. Not to mention, the platform has been fined and sued over issues like the trading gamification, misleading communications, and risk oversight. Robinhood incurred outages and technical difficulties during high market volatility periods, costing users substantial losses. And dont forget January 28, 2021, when Robinhood halted the purchase (but not the sale) of certain stocks that were the focus of grassroots retail trading campaigns, notably GameStop and AMC, citing risk management and clearinghouse deposit requirements. Its no surprise to skeptical investors that market makers (like Citadel) had significant loss exposure to the stocks in question. In the hedge funds pockets The trading platform that named itself after the famous mythical character who steals from the rich and gives to the poor was doing just the oppositeproving with its actions it was in the monied hedge fund crowds pockets all along. Youd think that Robinhood was delivering on its promise by looking at its stock price chart. The company is a Wall Street darling, its stock continuing to climb, often supported by investments from the 32% individual retail stock owners. Our company, Prospero.ai, is a free investment research platform with a newsletter suggesting stock picks to retail investors. For a long time, we warned of Robinhoods dangers because it exacerbates the established market players existing advantages. But Robinhoods stock gained such a groundswell of retail and institutional support that we recently flipped to recommending the stock on the same basis that a lot of people seem to use it. My attitude when we flipped our stance was, Our signals love this stock; we have an obligation to report on the best investments and not cloud our recommendations with personal moral judgements. While this might seem like a sad capitulation, and it is, there is a silver lining. The power of the individual You see, Prosperos algorithms only show how the market is moving in aggregate. To give truly good and unbiased investing advice, I feel obligated to follow the very accurate results our signals indicate. But all of Prosperos collected data are built on many, many small decisionsoften made by individuals. When analysis increasingly rules decision making, individuals have the power to move markets if they are willing to adhere to their own principles, and not institutions principles. If individual investors stop using and investing in Robinhood, investing algorithms like ours at Prospero will not continue favoring Robinhood. And this applies to all systems. There are more middle and working class people than uber wealthy people. If the collective puts actions behind principles favoring themselves, our societys principles will have to change too. The crypto revolution This brings me to the next horizon in the financial industrythe crypto revolution. We have been similarly concerned with the structures it creates but also unable to ignore the extreme positive momentum. For example, COIN (Coinbase) has been one of our more consistent recommendations the last few years. I cant help but see even bigger risks here, though. Few things have gotten the American people up in arms more than a massive financial crisis. Yet with all of the talk about crypto improving things, we have seen it be a hotbed of criminal activity, and the systemic risks posed by increasing capital into it are astounding and seemingly never discussed. For example, crypto products and platforms frequently fail to provide full or accurate information about risks, operations, management, or associated costs to users. Crypto platforms also reuse client assets as collateral for multiple loans, creating cascading chains of leverage that amplify systemic risk far beyond what’s visible. Conflicts of interest and insider dealings can be hidden in crypto markets, unlike traditional regulated financial markets that require comprehensive public disclosures. Platform operations and market making in crypto can be nontransparent, allowing exchanges or insiders to profit at customer expensesometimes even trading against their own users. Scams, phishing attacks, and exchange hacks are rampant. The irreversibility of crypto transactions means most victims never recover their assets. This hasnt stopped crypto from becoming a more interesting space for retail investors who own 20% of stocks versus 85% of Bitcoin. I hope this information has the appropriate impact. Whenever we let institutions and insiders add too much leverage, the system breaks. The more money in crypto, the harder the system will break. Why do retail investors help usher in self-destructive systems? Crypto investors and market makers are operating for themselves. When will individuals learn to do the same? The world changeswhen people stop feeling defeated and start living by their principles. If we all exercise our power, the masses will become unstoppable. Look at our current society. Youll find scorn and distaste for the billionaires galivanting the country on the backs of the working class. But at least these billionaires have figured out something valuable: how to operate for themselves. Dont take this writing as a call for middle and working class people to band together to act in one way. Act for yourselfnot for institutions. Act in ways that will truly benefit you and your family in the long term. I have a feeling that if we all do that, it will lead to a more equitable society, which is where I, for one, want to live. George Kailas is CEO of Prospero.ai.
Category:
E-Commerce
At first glance, preventing school shootings, gun violence, and youth suicide may seem like the responsibility of parents, educators, or law enforcement. But a closer lookbacked by researchreveals a much bigger truth: The marketing, media, and tech industries play an outsized role in shaping the narrative of how children view and engage with firearms. That influence can be used for goodor remain a dangerous force accelerating one of our most urgent public health crises. Twelve years ago, when my son Dylan was killed in the Sandy Hook School shooting, gun violence was covered in the media as tragic but inevitable. Just a grim fact of life in America. But over time, that narrative has changed. The emphasis is now on prevention. We recognize that shootings are not random or inevitable. They are preventable. And that narrative shift is saving lives. But there is a darker undercurrent to this progressone that cannot be ignored. The new target audience: Our kids In a way unmatched by any other industry, gun manufacturers are marketing their deadly products to children online, often through social media influencers. While children and teens cannot legally purchase firearms, they are exposed to aggressive, often militarized or hyper-sexualized content that equates guns with power, identity, and status. Our recent report, Untargeting Kids: Protecting Children from Harmful Firearm Marketing, exposes how the firearms industry has refined their strategies over the last decade to intentionally target youth. Tactics include using influencers positioned as peers or role models, pushing content that glorifies violence or revenge, and promoting firearms as symbols of masculinity and control. And its working. A recent survey conducted by KRC Research for Sandy Hook Promise, revealed the staggering rates at which children are exposed to advertisements for guns. More than half of boys ages 1017 report seeing sexually charged firearm content at least once a week. One in three boys has clicked on a firearm ad, and nearly one-third of boys follow influencers who promote firearms. Disturbingly, most parents are unaware this is happening on their childs social media feeds. Why this matters Kids are far more susceptible to advertising than adults. Their prefrontal cortexwhich governs impulse control and decision makingis not fully developed until they are around 25 years old. Theyre more likely to take risks, misinterpret advertising, and mimic influencers. And over the years since youth have been exposed to this type of content, rates of school shootings and youth suicide have skyrocketed. In 2015, there were 41 school shooting incidents, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database. By 2023, that number increased to 340the highest on record. Each of these incidents was preventable. Each life lost was avoidable. 3 things companies canand mustdo There is overwhelming support for change. The KRC Research survey shows that 77% of both parents and boys agree: Companies should not advertise firearms to minors. That sentiment is the same in both households with gun owners and those without. Its time for businessesespecially those in marketing, media, and techto align themselves with this national viewpoint and act accordingly. Here are three ways to companies can take action: 1. Adopt age restrictions for firearm-related content. Just as with alcohol and tobacco, gun-related content should be age-gated. Platforms should prevent underage users from seeing this content. 2. Build standards for responsible gun messaging. There is a difference between promoting responsible gun ownership and glamorizing violence or positioning guns as tools to demonstrate power. Decades ago, gun-related advertising focused on safety and instruction. That approach likely saved lives. Lets return to that standard, especially when the message could reach minors. Brands, influencers, and manufacturers can align on voluntary marketing codes that prioritize education and responsibility over clicks and profit. 3. Close social media loopholes. Platforms like Instagram and YouTube must crack down on gun marketing. Influencers and personalities who promote firearms without disclosing partnerships should be held accountable. Algorithms that feed children a steady stream of gun-glorifying content should be reprogrammed with public safety in mind. This is not about politics. Its about protecting kids. Many of the most influential firearm promoters online are parents themselves. Most gun-owning families want their children to learn about guns from a place of safety, not sensationalism. We can and must build common ground around that shared value and more safeguarded narrative. Final thoughts It’s time for marketing companies, social media platforms, and gun manufacturers to step up. They have a big impact and are uniquely positioned to shape cultureand protect children in the process. By stopping ads that target kids, setting stronger algorithms and age filters for content, and focusing on gun safety and responsibility instead of power and exploitation, these industries can help stop gun violence in our schools, homes, and communities. Our children should not be the mass casualties of aggressive marketing strategies or passive content moderation. And the business communities who help shape what kids see, hear, and believe need to be part of the solution. Lets do what we would do if the children seeing these harmful messages were our childrenbecause they are. Nicole Hockley is cofounder and co-CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy on December 14, 2012.
Category:
E-Commerce
Twenty years ago this August, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. More than 1,300 lives were lost. It destroyed homes, displaced families, and overwhelmed many of the institutions that undergird civil society. It was also a wake-up call that reshaped how the country responds to natural disasters. Over the past two decades, we’ve made real progress. Government agencies, nonprofits, businesses, and community organizations have built stronger systems to prepare before disaster strikes. But as the recent devastating Texas floods, California wildfires, and many other disasters have shown, we still have work to do to make preparedness universal. And with experts predicting another active hurricane season this year, it’s vital that we all work together to help communities get ready. Stakeholders of all sizes have critical roles to play in building resilience as storms arrive faster and hit harder. Do what you know best One major lesson from the last two decades is that businesses can have an outsized impact on disaster preparedness when they do what they know bestwhether that’s logistics, supply chains, or other specialized services. FedEx, for example, used its logistics expertise to create emergency preparedness checklists that help small businesses build their own plans. Other companies are partnering with nonprofits to reinforce disaster response systems. Following Hurricane Katrina, Abbott partnered with Feeding America and Direct Relief to stock essential nutrition and healthcare products at food banks and clinics in high-risk areas. Since 2006, these partnerships have delivered rapid aid to 700,000 people across the Gulf, the Southeast coasts, and other areas. We expect to help an additional 270,000 people this yearextending our support to nearly 1 million people. This model continues to grow. Feeding America is now working with new partners, including supermarket chain ALDI, to preposition shelf-stable food and emergency items for broader distribution. Subhed Of course, comprehensive disaster preparedness requires more than ensuring supplies for quick distribution in the aftermath of a storm. Across the country, nonprofits and companies are working together to strengthen infrastructure, train staff, and develop continuity plans so aid can reach families faster when it is needed most. Natural disasters pose an especially acute threat to small businesses. According to a 2025 report from the Milken Institute, nearly two-thirds of small businesses close within a year of experiencing a natural disaster. Less than four in 10 have insurance that covers natural disasters. These gaps may make it harder for them to recover, and for communities to bounce back. A natural disaster can disrupt supply chains, displace employees and customers, and ripple outward to stall entire local economies. Resilience Fortunately, resources are available. Groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation offer guidance and step-by-step planning tools tailored to small businesses. But that is only part of the solution. The next step will be to facilitate proactive, long-term resilience. Our aforementioned partnerships, which facilitated investment in backup energy systems, emergency storage facilities, and staff training programs, are examples of this approach. Such practical upgrades help ensure that essential services remain available during and after a crisis, disaster-proofing the systems communities rely on most. Every community is different. What is needed in New Orleans may not be the same as what is needed in Miami or San Juan. But one thing is clear: The more we collaborate and prepare, the stronger we will be when the next storm arrives. Melissa Brotz is the chief marketing, communications, and sustainability officer at Abbott.
Category:
E-Commerce
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