Keen On America

Episode 2309: Michal Kosinski on the corrosive impact of social media on democracy and freedom

Jan 19, 2025
Michal Kosinski, an Associate Professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business, discusses the alarming effects of social media on democracy. He highlights how platforms like Facebook inadvertently empowered populist candidates, bypassing traditional media. Kosinski also reflects on his controversial research that predicts personal traits from social media data. While he sees potential in AI to improve lives, he warns of the long-term risks associated with its unchecked advancement and emphasizes the need for effective privacy protections in our digital landscape.
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ANECDOTE

Unplanned Academic Journey

  • Michal Kosinski was initially unsure about his career path and got kicked out of his psychology course multiple times.
  • After meeting a role model who studied abroad, he applied to top universities and unexpectedly got into Cambridge.
INSIGHT

Social Media's Predictive Power

  • Michal Kosinski's research revealed how social media data could predict intimate personal traits.
  • This gained notoriety during the Cambridge Analytica scandal, leading to legal consequences for Facebook.
INSIGHT

Facebook's Oversight

  • Facebook wasn't inherently malicious but failed to understand the implications of their technology.
  • Policymakers mistakenly asked Facebook to self-regulate, despite their conflict of interest.
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