[nattaggart]

It seems that there is a much higher threshold of "changing the world" applied to the private sector than to government or non-profits. I routinely hear people in relatively less influential organizations of the latter make such claims without coming off as arrogant.

This makes me think that people in Silicon Valley aren't arrogant as much as they tend to break an unstated social rule: One can't claim to be doing good while making a profit (even if what you're doing is in fact net-good).

[idlewords]

This social rule has been elegantly hacked by no longer bothering to make a profit.

[TheOtherHobbes]

Or doing any real good.

Part of the problem is that markets don't distinguish between "screw the little guy (or the clueless VC) and make a quick buck" returns, and "have customers flocking to you because your product is awesome and it makes them awesome too" returns.

As far as markets are concerned, there's only money. Accountants and auditors know nothing about social value, and care less.

How can you measure social value when there are no accepted metrics?

[x5n1]

The world is already changing. It changes every day.