Lessons from MKBHD’s App Brouhaha

If you have a long career in media and writing in public like I have, you’re likely to make some mistakes. And you’re going to have some regrets. One of those was a story I wrote about Path, a company started by Dave Morin. I was critical, harsh and unkind to the company and its product.

I don’t have regrets because I failed to do my job or wasn’t honest. I have regrets because I forgot that the English language allows us to make points with elegance and eloquence. How could I, as a practitioner of the bard’s language, forget its original tenet? I regret using the words I did because they minimized the efforts of individuals who dreamed up something new.

I look back and often think perhaps I should have approached my work with empathy, carefully chosen words and a measured tone. While our culture often encourages harsh takedowns, we should consider the impact of our words.

I bring this up because of the recent brouhaha surrounding Marques Brownlee’s (MKBHD) wallpaper app. In case you didn’t know, Brownlee is a YouTuber of considerable influence, to put it mildly. He can shake the foundations of a product company — ask Rabbit or Humane. He recently released Panels, an app that bundled a bunch of high-quality images to be used as wallpapers. As someone who once ran a media company, I appreciate his attempt to diversify revenue streams beyond YouTube.

This $50-a-year app was a way for him to augment his revenue, which is primarily from advertising. There were several issues with Panels. John Gruber, in his review of the app, succinctly described it as “As it stands, Panels is incongruous and incoherent.” I have not really used the app and don’t intend to — my iPhone wallpaper is a plain black screen. I’m too much of a New Yorker to have it any other way.

However, the fracas around Panels should serve as a learning opportunity, not only for Brownlee but also for those who review products and offer opinions. It reminds us that creating something new requires effort, courage and dedication.

Putting oneself out there inevitably invites criticism and feedback. This situation serves as a reminder for both creators and critics to approach their work thoughtfully, balancing honesty with kindness and keeping the audience’s needs at the forefront.

September 28, 2024. San Francisco