Geeks are the new rock stars

These days, technology personalities get more clout and stardom than traditional ‘celebrities’. Tech folks are the cool folks now. Geeks are the new rock stars.

This is evidenced by popular events like TED and SXSW, where ideas and intelligence reign supreme. In fact, SXSW Interactive eclipsed the popularity of SXSW Music many years ago. Conference attendees are more excited by disruptive start-ups than they are mainstream music!

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But it’s not just on the big stage—this phenomena is also occurring at the micro level. Try going to a bar and telling people you’re an iPhone app developer. That’s way cooler than saying you play in a rock band. Jobs at Apple, Google, Facebook, Twitter and Amazon are among the most sought after in the world.

As technology becomes more pervasive in our lives, it begins to impact our culture more and more. When Mark Zuckerburg got married, it was covered in People. When Steve Jobs died it was like John Lennon dying. These tech icons have become ingrained in today’s zeitgeist.

Technology has become a part of mainstream culture. Geeks are the new rock stars.

And, this is just the beginning …

2 Replies to “Geeks are the new rock stars”

  1. I wholeheartedly agree Adam – you’ve hit the nail on the head here!

    It’s interesting to note how the old stereotype – that IT/tech geeks are ‘uncool’ – has shifted so dramatically over the past couple of years.

    With the rise of the startup scene in Australia and abroad, coders/programmers/hackers etc. are definitely the rock stars of the post-2010 years.

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