The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart How Algorithms, Money, & Bureaucracy Distance us from Democracy
106 snips
Oct 3, 2024 
Ezra Klein, an opinion columnist for The New York Times and author of "Why We're Polarized," joins Tristan Harris, co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, to dissect how algorithms and financial influences skew public discourse. They explore the rise of populism and its disconnect from actual government policies, emphasizing how social media fuels fragmentation and conspiracy theories. The conversation sheds light on the challenges posed by technology to democracy and proposes systemic changes for healthier public engagement.
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Demagogue Prevention
- Two factors previously prevented demagogues from rising: party gatekeeping power and media control.
- These acted as guardrails, limiting access for figures like Donald Trump.
Democratization and Demagogues
- Democratizing processes may open doors for demagogues.
- The analog nature of democracy seems slower compared to the digital world.
Software's Impact
- Software's increasing influence on society affects media, elections, and development.
- Social media's design, focused on engagement, impacts societal health.
