IoT Pioneer Stacey Higginbotham Steps Back After Two Decades of Tech Journalism

After more than twenty years spent tracking the relentless evolution of the technology industry, prominent tech journalist and Internet of Things analyst Stacey Higginbotham has officially brought her weekly newsletter and podcast to a close. In a final publication released on August 18, 2023, Higginbotham reflected on her storied career, the profound societal shifts brought on by pervasive computing, and the growing industry burnout that prompted her to step away from daily reporting.

While the conclusion of her weekly newsletter marks the end of a significant chapter, Higginbotham emphasized that her departure from traditional journalism does not constitute a complete goodbye to the tech community. She plans to remain active on Bluesky and will occasionally publish independent newsletters when pressing industry issues demand her attention. Furthermore, she is transitioning into a consulting role with the Consumer Reports Innovation Lab, where she will focus heavily on the cybersecurity and privacy challenges associated with connected devices.

The decision to step back follows a remarkable independent run that began in 2016. At the time, Higginbotham made the bold choice to leave her position as a senior editor at Fortune to launch her own independent venture focused entirely on the emerging Internet of Things ecosystem. When she first struck out on her own, many in the media landscape questioned the wisdom of leaving an established publication to build a standalone enterprise.

Driven by a desire to deeply investigate the technological and social ramifications of embedding computing into everyday objects, Higginbotham proved the doubters wrong. Thousands of dedicated readers and listeners, alongside vital corporate sponsors, rallied around her work, enabling her to sustain the independent venture for years. Looking back, she expressed profound gratitude to her audience, acknowledging that her ability to explore these complex issues was entirely dependent on the time and stories shared by her readers.

However, the relentless pace of daily tech journalism ultimately took its toll. Over two decades of covering immediate news cycles left her with limited opportunities to step back and examine the broader, long-term implications of the consumer products and corporate innovations she routinely evaluated.

Reflecting on her years covering the smart home and industrial tech sectors, Higginbotham shared deep concerns regarding the trajectory of the Internet of Things. Even during the early days of smart home reporting in 2012, she recognized that connected devices often introduced unnecessary complexity into everyday life while simultaneously exposing users to severe risks regarding corporate and government surveillance. As the market matured and numerous hardware startups launched only to fold shortly thereafter, the underlying business models of connected products shifted toward aggressive data collection and pricey, mandatory subscription fees.

Beyond the consumer sphere, Higginbotham observed troubling trends in how emerging technologies were deployed in the workplace. Enterprises increasingly utilized advanced monitoring tools to track employees, pushing human labor to absolute limits while optimizing strictly for financial bottom lines. Meanwhile, corporate investments in environmental, social, and governance initiatives often fell short, functioning more as greenwashing campaigns than genuine efforts to address systemic ecological and social challenges.

Despite her enduring love for technology and her foundational belief in the capacity of innovators to solve complex problems, Higginbotham admitted to feeling exhausted and increasingly cynical. This burnout, she noted, made it difficult to maintain enthusiasm for new startups and research initiatives, ultimately obscuring the genuinely brilliant ideas emerging within the industry.

By stepping back from the daily grind of newsletter production and podcasting, Higginbotham hopes to recover her passion for human ingenuity and technological progress. In the interim, her work with the Consumer Reports Innovation Lab will allow her to channel her expertise into advocacy, concentrating on making connected hardware safer, more secure, and inherently more beneficial for everyday users.

As she closes the door on her weekly publication, Higginbotham encourages her vast network of peers, sources, and readers to stay in touch as she embarks on this new phase of her professional journey.