PostEverything Best Of: Outsourcing Virtue To Uncaring Algorithms with Michael Sacasas
Jan 8, 2025
Michael Sacasas, Associate Director of the Christian Study Center of Gainesville and author of The Convivial Society, dives into the intriguing intersection of technology and morality. He critiques how outsourcing virtue to algorithms affects individual judgment, urging the need for media literacy in an age of information overload. The conversation highlights the challenges of moderating social media, the rise of tribal thinking, and the pursuit of emotional content over nuanced dialogue. Sacasas calls for critical thinking and patience as we navigate these complex digital landscapes.
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Algorithmic Moderation Outsources Judgment
- Social media platforms try to replace human judgment with elaborate rules and algorithmic moderation.
- This outsourcing repeats a long bureaucratic impulse to avoid situated human responsibility.
From Narrative To Database Overload
- The digital media shift turned narrative experiences into a flood of data points users must adjudicate.
- Navigating that database demands intellectual virtues like humility, patience, and honesty.
Delay Your Online Response
- Resist the pressure to immediately speak on social media; silence rarely registers but can be wise.
- Prioritize careful, patient judgment over emotionally charged posts that chase engagement.
