Smartphones are powerful. They turn bystanders into instant journalists. Just as the pandemic-era “Karen” videos showed us, social media can amplify every misstep. High-profile individuals — and even ordinary people — must act as if they are always on camera (because most of the time we are). A single viral moment can destroy a reputation overnight. That reality played out at the U.S. Open on Aug. 29, 2025, when Polish CEO Piotr Szczerek snatched an autographed hat meant for a young fan from tennis star Kamil Majchrzak. The boy was left heartbroken. The internet was outraged.

Even though very few people personally know the figures involved, crises like this always feel deeply personal. They ripple through businesses, eroding stakeholder trust, lowering employee morale, and hurting the bot

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