I understood this to mean the power of appreciating the societal consequences of technology, and the responsibility of educating others about those consequences, both positive and negative.

That's not power, that's a curse!

Especially if nobody listens anyway.

Not much more than anyone else. The few people with power in the world are already known. The parent comment highlights the flaw of moral superiority common in the tech/HN crowd where people tend to feel far more important than they are.

In actuality we're no different than the billions of others on the planet and no amount of Silicon Valley startup experience is going to change that.

People like us, we are the trendsetters online. It won't be quick, but Facebook has signed its own death warrant.

Because we are busy building Facebook. Or some other similar facet of online life.

> What kind of power do you think we have?

Not having power, or having less power than before, makes the discourse even more important.

> We can't even convince our friends and family to stay the fuck off of Facebook.

The idea that people should stay off Facebook is part of that narrative. That is how the industry can claim that they are changing the world, but at the same time aren't to answer for any of the changes.

> Aside from the fact that some people from our industry have a shitton of money I don't see us having any kind of social influence.

Social influence isn't so much what is said and done in isolation, but what is and isn't accepted. Things like what you see as a problem, why it is a problem and how it should be addressed influences what happens next.