Who Watches The Watchers?

Is social media fact-checking becoming obsolete? This episode explores Mark Zuckerberg's shift from using professional fact checkers to employing community-driven content moderation on Facebook, mirroring broader changes in digital discourse. Dan and Gord discuss the implications for information sharing, the evolving political landscape, and the potential democratization of online truth verification.

Show Notes:

Facebook is moving away from professional fact checkers, eliminating partnerships with approximately 90 fact-checking organizations due to perceived political bias.

A fundamental political culture shift took place during the recent U.S. federal election.

Mark Zuckerberg is adopting a community-driven content moderation approach similar to X (Twitter), implementing "Community Notes" where users can flag and verify information.

This shift represents a significant evolution in how digital information is verified and shared across social media platforms.

The change could potentially disrupt the business models of existing fact-checking organizations, many of which relied on Facebook contracts.

Younger generations have grown up in a hyper-connected world and feel the need to be well-informed, but stepping back from the constant barrage of information on social media can have a positive impact on mental health and productivity.

Dan Sullivan’s secret to staying focused and productive in the digital age? Treating his attention as his most valuable property (i.e., being highly selective about what information and media he consumes).

Podcasts have become the most trusted form of media available today.

Resources:

The 4 C’s Formula by Dan Sullivan

Your Attention: Your Property by Dan Sullivan