The Social Media Spiral: Misinformation and Perceptions of Violence

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This chapter examines how social media platforms, particularly TikTok, amplify dangerous narratives surrounding violent incidents linked to far-right ideologies. It discusses the challenges faced by journalists in navigating misinformation and biased perceptions during chaotic events, ultimately revealing how these dynamics distort individuals' understanding of reality.

Paris Marx is joined by Hussein Kesvani to discuss the far-right attacks that happened after the Southport stabbing in the UK and how larger structural issues in media, politics, and tech laid the groundwork for violence against visible minorities.

Hussein Kesvani is a co-host of Trashfuture and Ten Thousand Posts.

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. Support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Eric Wickham. Transcripts are by Brigitte Pawliw-Fry.

Also mentioned in this episode:

The stabbing in Southport resulted in the deaths of three children and injuries to eight children and two adults.
After days of far-right attacks, there were large anti-fascist and anti-racist demonstrations across the UK.
Some fascists attacked hotels housing asylum seekers, but in places like Bristol, locals started defending the hotels.
In 1968, Conservative MP Enoch Powell delivered the “rivers of blood” speech.
Elon Musk has been sharing a series of incendiary posts and false information that have helped fuel these attacks.
The billionaire’s changes to Twitter have helped fuel right-wing misinformation.

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