Big Tech’s Pandemic Power Grab: Why Amazon, Apple, and Google Won the Crisis

When the world shut down, Big Tech powered up. As small businesses shuttered and traditional retailers scrambled, digital giants like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Facebook surged to record valuations. In Post Corona, Scott Galloway details how these firms leveraged the crisis to entrench their dominance.

Amazon became the backbone of quarantine life, delivering everything from groceries to entertainment. Apple’s ecosystem kept millions connected and productive. Google and Facebook captured even more of our attention—and our data. These companies didn’t just survive; they thrived, adding trillions in market value while others struggled to stay afloat.

What’s behind their success? Galloway points to network effects: each new user makes the platform more valuable, creating a self-reinforcing cycle. Their scale allows them to outspend and out-innovate competitors. And with data as their currency, they can anticipate and shape consumer behavior in real time.

But there’s a dark side. Market concentration is at historic highs, with just five firms accounting for over 20% of the U.S. stock market’s value. This raises urgent questions about competition, privacy, and the future of work. As regulators debate how to rein in these giants, Galloway warns that unchecked power could stifle innovation and deepen inequality.

The pandemic didn’t create Big Tech’s dominance—it revealed and accelerated it. The challenge now is to ensure that the digital future remains open and competitive for all.

Sources: Scott Galloway, Post Corona; Blinkist summary 1 ; Bookey.app 3 ; Summaries.com 4