Social media takes a lot of punches for enabling sexual harassment. But the past two months have shown that it has also provided consumers with an unprecedented power to make their market preferences heard loud and clear. And right now, the market is demanding that companies do something about sexual predators and pests in their midsts. The firing of Matt Lauer — the “Today” show star who reportedly commanded a salary of $25 million per year — by NBC News is just the latest example of a company moving swiftly to protect its brand in the face of sexual misconduct allegations. …
Reading the just-published details of Mr. Lauer’s alleged behavior, failing to fire him seems unthinkable. …
But there’s another, more positive, takeaway from Mr. Lauer’s firing, which is that corporations are susceptible to the moral suasion of the public. CONT.
Elizabeth Nolan Brown (Reason magazine), New York Times