Radical with Amol Rajan Information Crisis: Why Social Media Bans Aren't The Answer (Naomi Alderman)
Dec 18, 2025
Naomi Alderman, a bestselling author and technology commentator, dives into our current 'third information crisis.' She likens it to historic revolutions like the printing press and discusses how abundant information can lead to anxiety and echo chambers. Alderman proposes innovative solutions like regulations for social media and the need for a 'checked internet' to combat misinformation. She also reflects on personal growth through therapy, emphasizing the importance of real human connection in a digital world.
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Third Information Crisis Explained
- The digital age is a “third information crisis” comparable to writing and printing because it massively increases available information.
- Naomi Alderman argues we lack structures to prioritise essential knowledge amid overwhelming abundance.
Overwhelm Fuels Polarised Groups
- Overwhelm and anxiety from information overload drive people to seek agreement and lash out.
- This dynamic creates clustered, antagonistic groups that amplify conflict online.
Printing Press And The Reformation
- Alderman recounts how the printing press enabled the Reformation by letting people read Bibles themselves.
- She highlights that identical believers then burned each other despite shared teachings of love.