The reason the growing dominance of social media in our communication is causing a global shift towards fascism, xenophobia, and conspiracism is because it’s an information space where:
-the most visible ideas are viral ones
-the most viral ideas are the most shocking
-nothing has to be true
-the most visible ideas are viral ones
-the most viral ideas are the most shocking
-nothing has to be true
Reposted from
John
You may as well say that the Civil War wasn't caused by slavery but by newspapers. The medium drives the politics, but it cannot do so in a vacuum. Just saying "it's social media" doesn't provide anything actionable to change the problem.
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In the before times, village idiots were isolated and could be ignored
We can argue scale but also fewer people could vote prior to the end of WW2 so.
We know social media is optimized to for certain neurochemical effects. Some political and social movements likely benefit from that more than others.
you post “the reason” for whatever trending-ish topic you get your hands on, on one social media platform or another, declared with scientific authority but no methods, articles, proofs or even a link in sight
“nothing has to be true” lol not for you
Those extremes become anchor points, or rocks, on which people cling to; screaming at other people on other rocks over the noise of the storm.
Remember soap boxes?
https://www.grunge.com/668929/the-origin-behind-the-phrase-get-on-your-soapbox/
whether that's on moderates or algos is a different story
I never knew this! Tell me more secret writing tips! You're obviously a very special kind of genius, Will!
Over the last 5yrs I've bought on average 100 books a year. Most because of authors I follow on socials plugging other authors and generally having an author love-in.
I sadly had to block a former friend because she almost literally gave this sort of responses. Numerous times in a row.
And I don't think anyone knows much about the effects of social media, sure, probably not good, so I don't pay attention unless they are proposing specific solutions.
Truly shocking content such as genocide is regularly suppressed on social media so it does not go viral.
Nothing has to be true in any information space: see legacy media boosterism for climate delay, motornormativity, individualising systemic issues, etc.
Spreading information to the masses have long been dangerous.