Is Big Tech Too Powerful?

1. Set Focus
Pose these essential questions to guide discussion: How do monopolies affect the marketplace and consumers? How do you know when a company has a monopoly on a good or service?

2. List Vocabulary
Share with students some of the challenging vocabulary words in this article. Encourage them to use context to infer meanings as they read.

• monopoly (p. 6)
• antitrust laws (p. 6)
• alleges (p. 6)
• dominance (p. 6)
• entrepreneurs (p. 8)
• innovation (p. 8)

3. Engage
Before students turn to the article, ask: How many searches do you think are made on Google every second? Then have students review the “By the Numbers” chart on page 6 and discuss whether any of the numbers surprise them and why or why not.

4. Read 
Have students read the article, marking the text to note key ideas or questions.

5. Discuss
Distribute or project Up Close: Is Big Tech Too Powerful?, a close-reading activity for students to work on in small groups. (Note: The questions on the PDF also appear below, with possible responses.) Follow up with a class discussion. If you’re short on time, have each group tackle one or two of the questions. Collect students’ work or have each group report its findings to the class.

• What is the author’s main purpose in the first two paragraphs of the article? (Author’s purpose, text structure)
  (The author’s main purpose is to convey how several big tech companies have become so integral to our lives. The author does this by asking questions about the sites you turn to for various purposes, such as using Amazon to shop. By personalizing the topic this way, the author helps readers understand why some people think tech companies are too powerful—which is a central idea of the article.) 

• Based on the article, what are some potential problems that could result from a company gaining a monopoly over a good or service?  (Central idea, problem & solution)
  (One problem is that consumers may pay higher prices because the company with the monopoly has no incentive to be price competitive. A lack of competition also removes incentive for maintaining quality in the services or goods the company sells. Additionally, monopolies make it difficult for new entrepreneurs to start businesses, which could limit innovation.) 

• The author explains antitrust actions or investigations the government is undertaking involving four tech companies. Based on the sidebars “What’s a Monopoly?” and “How Big Tech Took Over,” as well as your own experiences, do you agree with the government’s concerns about each company? Explain. (Integrate sources)
  (Students’ responses will vary, but students should cite text evidence and/or examples from their own lives to support their ideas. For example, students may cite their own use of a non-Google search engine to argue that the government’s allegations against Google are overblown.)

• In the article, Hal Singer says, “But they are also asking, ‘What kind of society do we want?’” Based on the context of the article, what are some possible answers to that question? (Make inferences)
  (Some people may say that the conveniences of not having to spend time making tech choices, such as which browser to use, is worth letting these companies have dominance over competitors. Others may say that fostering innovation and preventing a single company from knowing everything about us is worth a little inconvenience in relation to using technology.) 

• Toward the end of the second section, Jennifer Newstead says, “The government now wants a do-over.” What does she mean? Do you agree? (Word meaning, evaluate claims)
  (Newstead means that the government already approved Facebook’s purchase of other companies but is now unfairly second-guessing those decisions because of Facebook’s success. Students’ evaluations of Newstead’s claim will vary, but students may point out that the government’s accusation against Facebook isn’t about getting a do-over but instead is in reaction to Facebook’s current business practices.) 

• According to the article, what do many Democrats see as the solution to tech monopolies? What do Republicans propose? What’s your view? Why? (Compare & contrast, problem & solution)
  (Many Democrats have called for breaking up the big tech companies into smaller companies so they don’t have as much power. Republicans tend to oppose breaking up the companies but often agree with imposing tighter regulations. Students’ own opinions will vary, but they should support their ideas with text evidence.)

6. Writing Prompt
Research and write two pages comparing perfectly competitive and monopolistic markets. Draw a conclusion about the ideal level of competitiveness for fostering a thriving economy.

7. Video
Watch the video featuring a critic of Facebook. What does it add to your understanding of the issues discussed in the article?

8. Classroom Debate
Does the government have the right to order a big company to break up into smaller companies?

9. Quiz & Skills
Use the quiz to assess students’ comprehension and Organizing Ideas to review outlining skills.