I think the roll of social media platforms is huge, and the signs were there with you two quite early on as well. There's an outsized focus on the role of the u tu algorithm, which does play a really important role in radicaliing people. But even before that, there has been kind of a strain of, i guess you could call it like reactionary celebrity culture on youtube. That's the piece of it that actually i'm more interested in, and that i focus on more in my research.
Paris Marx is joined by Becca Lewis to discuss YouTube’s history of incentivizing extreme content, how the storming of the US Capitol shows the power of media spectacle, and why we should see social media platforms as media companies.
Becca Lewis is a PhD candidate in Communication at Stanford University. She’s also written for a number of publications, including NBC News, Vice News, and New York Magazine. Follow Becca on Twitter as @beccalew.
Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.
Find out more about Harbinger Media Network at harbingermedianetwork.com.
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