We are excited to invite you to our showcase panel symposium, How Good Technologies Go Bad. We bring together scholars to facilitate a lively discussion about how technologies intended to bring societal benefits may ultimately cause immense harm. We explore this important and timely topic through our panel symposium.
Session Type: Symposium Showcase
Submission: 15724 | Sponsors: (TIM, OMT)
Scheduled: Monday, Aug 3 2026 8:00AM - 9:30AM EDT (UTC-4) at Philadelphia Marriott Downtown in Salon G
Panelists:
Shon Hiatt, University of Southern California
Felipe Massa, University of Vermont
Alex Murray, University of Oregon
Jane Wu, University of California, Los Angeles
Organizers:
Stine Grodal, Northeastern University
Liz Hood, University of Southern California
Symposium Abstract:
Technology has the potential to positively transform society in crucial industries such as healthcare, telecommunications, and renewable energy. Existing research on technology evolution thus often explores how performance improvements over time provide positive consequences for users. Yet, some technologies that are meant to provide positive outcomes end up causing harm. For example, e-cigarettes were intended to serve as a cessation tool for smokers but addicted a new generation to nicotine, OxyContin was intended to improve the quality of life for individuals with chronic pain yet served a role in developing the opioid epidemic, and social media was introduced to help foster connections among friends, yet many people now feel more lonely and less connected. While existing research on technology notes that new technologies may have negative externalities that harm specific groups, some technologies not only cause negative externalities, but direct harm on users. These technologies were often not invented with the goal to harm but instead to provide a benefit to society. Yet, existing research has yet to explicate how technologies intended to provide societal benefits may subsequently cause immense harm. In this panel symposium, we bring together experts to facilitate discussions around how good technologies go bad.
We hope to see you there!
Liz Hood and Stine Grodal