| Uber's Good Name May Suffer |
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By: Jessica Cherok |
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 Despite its massive success, Uber is having a hard time. The company is being sued in California, and there are talks of banning it in India.
Uber has been a huge hit, valued at over $40 billion. Yes, despite their wild popularity, the company has received a lot of criticism. Many states and some countries have tried to ban the service altogether. Drivers have decided to strike in order to get better wages. And, most recently, an Uber driver in India has been accused of raping a passenger.
So how is it the company has remained so popular in the midst of all the bad press?
The answer is simply – people are willing to overlook negatives when the company’s product or service is useful. A company may have certain political or religious views (ahem, Chickfila), but delivering a good product can often negate consumer objections. Of course, looking the other way would not include rape.
Uber may be riding the wave of useful service, but the company is treading in dangerous water if it doesn’t soon clean up its act. Consumers may have a higher tolerance when they enjoy the product, but that tolerance can only go so far. If Uber doesn’t start actively trying to clean up its image, it may find itself losing out to competitors such as Lyft.
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Jessica Cherok is an advocate for online privacy, campaigning for ethical data practices and the protection of personal privacy.
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