The Internet is a dark and horrible place. Deep down, I think we all know that. And maybe it’s only gotten darker and more horrible over time. It really doesn’t matter what topics we’re talking about: politics, movies, wars, music, or bunnies. Sooner or later, if you read the comment section on social media, you’re going to run into the worst people imaginable saying the most horrible things. But maybe it’s not even the worst people all of the time. Maybe the algorithm is just designed to kill our best angels and turn us into the worst version of ourselves. Spoiler Alert… it kinda is! How else does a folk rocker, a billionaire sports owner, a pop rocker and an alternative rapper who hasn’t had a hit since 2014 become the focal point of public opinion over the war in Gaza? The answer… Instagram! On this week’s episode Mav and Hannah are joined by Internet scholar to break down the ways in which the internet in general and social media algorithms in particular build a culture predicated on dark opinions and negativity. Listen and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Citations and Links:
- Thank you to Maximilian’s thoughtForm Music for our theme
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- Follow Mav on BlueSky: @chrismaverick
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