Making Sense of Social Media and the Information Landscape | Episode 8 of The Essential Sam Harris | Making Sense with Sam Harris

Intro

In this episode of “Making Sense with Sam Harris,” Sam explores the impact of social media on our society and the information landscape. He delves into the positive potential and negative effects of social media, the business model that enables it, and the challenges it poses in the realms of economics, politics, and psychology. Through conversations with experts and defectors from Silicon Valley, Sam uncovers the dangers of social media algorithms, the threat of deep-fake technology, and the battle for our attention in the age of AI. He also discusses the power of personalized advertising, the belief that information should be free, and the need for a more trustworthy and sustainable internet. The episode features an insightful interview with Jack Dorsey, co-founder and CEO of Twitter, who shares his perspective on the challenges and goals of the platform.

Main Takeaways

The Dark and Positive Sides of Social Media

• Social media has positive potential and societal benefits but also has negative effects on politics, social relations, and moral psychologies.
• Social media algorithms can hijack even the most practiced meditators and target our propensity for outrage, adulation, annoyance, and disgust.
• The social media question is situated in the context of the business model that enables it, called surveillance capitalism or personalized advertising.
• Deep-fake technology threatens to pour even more fuel on the fire of the collapsing integrity of global information.

The Battle for Attention and the Power of Algorithms

• Technology undermines human weaknesses, not just overwhelms human strengths.
• Our addiction to checking our phones is intimately woven into our daily lives, making it the starting point for attention.
• Social media algorithms have an exponential degree of asymmetry and know our weaknesses better than we know ourselves.
• Personalized, targeted advertising suggests a deep shift in the power to persuade.

The Belief in Free Information and the Need for Seriousness

• The belief that information should be free was held intensely in the 80s and still holds for many people today.
• Assuming that information is free leads to having more information than one can experience.
• We need to find a way to bring seriousness into the world of technology.
• Encourage business models where people pay for what they want to eliminate commercial bias and improve the quality of information on social media.

The Challenges and Goals of Twitter

• Twitter has entrenched itself in the political and journalistic environment, which can lead to controversy and policy knots.
• Twitter enables revolutions and empowers dissidents but also has the potential to spread misinformation and be used by terrorist groups like ISIS.
• Twitter’s medium is conversation, and the goal is for users to learn from it and walk away having gained knowledge.
• Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter, leads the company in the open, with a long-term goal of providing value to users.

Summary

Understanding the Dark and Positive Sides of Social Media

Social media has become a powerful force in our society, with both positive potential and negative effects. While it allows for connections, knowledge sharing, and political change, it also has the ability to manipulate our emotions and spread misinformation. The business model behind social media, personalized advertising, raises concerns about the power to persuade and the erosion of truth. Deep-fake technology further threatens the integrity of information. It is crucial to recognize the dual nature of social media and address its negative impacts.

The Battle for Attention and the Power of Algorithms

Technology, particularly social media algorithms, has the ability to exploit our weaknesses and hijack our attention. Our addiction to smartphones and the constant need to check them make us vulnerable to distraction and manipulation. Algorithms have a deep understanding of our preferences and can target us with personalized advertising. This asymmetry of power raises questions about the ethical implications of persuasive technology and the need to regain control over our attention.

The Belief in Free Information and the Need for Seriousness

The belief that information should be free has shaped our relationship with digital content. However, assuming that information is free leads to an overwhelming amount of information that we cannot fully experience. It is essential to find a way to bring seriousness into the world of technology and recognize the value of quality information. Business models that prioritize user payment and eliminate commercial bias can contribute to a more trustworthy and sustainable internet.

The Challenges and Goals of Twitter

Twitter has become a prominent platform with significant influence in politics and journalism. While it enables revolutions and empowers dissidents, it also faces challenges in combating misinformation and ensuring responsible use. Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter, emphasizes the importance of conversation and learning on the platform. Despite criticism and controversy, he strives to lead the company with a long-term goal of providing value to users and fostering knowledge exchange.

Conclusion

The impact of social media on our society and the information landscape is complex and multifaceted. It is crucial to navigate the dark and positive sides of social media, address the battle for attention, reconsider the belief in free information, and strive for a more trustworthy and sustainable internet. Platforms like Twitter face challenges in balancing their potential for positive change with the risks of misinformation and controversy. By understanding these dynamics, we can work towards harnessing the positive potential of social media while mitigating its negative effects.