Firstly, an apology. We last met in January and had intended to meet sooner, but life has somewhat got in the way.
However, I’m keen to regain momentum and keep Product for Good on track to make 2025 a great year.
What happened in our last sessions?
In 2024, the community mapped the unintended consequences (both positive and negative) of the products we work on. After presenting these findings to each other, we began to identify overlaps among the various products.
In 2025, we met up and decided which of these unintended consequences the group wanted to address. Our aim is to create a set of guiding principles that product managers can bring to their teams, organisations, and practices. These principles will help ensure teams are aware of potential unintended consequences of their products and actively work to mitigate any harms.
The guiding principles will cover the following topics:
- Tech evangelism: Prioritising technology over human judgement, leading to potential ethical and social dilemmas.
- Digital exclusion: Tech choices leaving vulnerable groups without access to essential services, social connections, and opportunities, exacerbating social and economic inequalities.
- Misinformation: Tech that helps spread false information, misleading public opinion, undermining trust in reliable sources, and leading to harmful behaviours and decisions.
- Erosion of community: When algorithms weaken social bonds and local support networks, leading to increased isolation and reduced communal resilience.
- Environmental impacts: How tech contributes to climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, threatening ecosystems and human health.
What’s the plan?
With the help of subject matter experts, the group will seek to both upskill and create a set of guiding principles for each of the areas above.
Want to join us in the mission?
Sign up to be part of Product for Good, here!
