Why West Virginia’s Small Towns Should Keep Big Tech—and CEOs Like Musk—Out
West Virginia’s small towns are the backbone of the state. Built on community values and supported by local businesses, they thrive on connection, tradition, and sustainability. But Big Tech—companies like Amazon, Google, and Elon Musk’s Tesla—are increasingly targeting these towns as untapped opportunities. They promise jobs and economic revitalization, but the reality is far darker. These tech giants don’t build communities; they exploit them, leaving behind inflated housing markets, displacement, and fractured local economies.
Ditch the Hashtags: Discovering West Virginia Beyond Instagram’s Hype
If you think West Virginia is just another stop on your quest for the perfect Instagram feed, you’re missing the point—and contributing to the problem. When a place gets slapped with the “Instagrammable” label, it’s like a warning sign for anyone who values real adventure: here come the crowds, the trash, and the erosion of what made it special in the first place. Top 10 lists and photo ops aren’t tourism—they’re just lazy marketing, reducing this wild and wonderful state to a mere backdrop. If your travel plans are driven by hashtags instead of heartbeats, maybe it’s time to rethink what you’re really searching for.