

1054: Renee DiResta | The Puppet Masters of Public Opinion
7 snips Sep 24, 2024
Renee DiResta, an expert on disinformation and author of *Invisible Rulers*, discusses how online platforms have altered public discourse. She highlights 'audience capture', where creators amplify extreme views for engagement. DiResta also explains the tactics of 'flooding the zone' to confuse truths and introduces the 'Liar's dividend', a tool for denying reality. She emphasizes the need for improved media literacy as a defense against misinformation, urging listeners to verify sources and recognize propaganda techniques in an era dominated by social media.
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Entry into Disinformation
- Renee DiResta became interested in disinformation after joining parenting groups on Facebook.
- These groups led her to anti-vaccine groups and sparked her curiosity about online radicalization.
Intolerance of Dissent
- Disagreement isn't allowed in some online subcultures, like anti-vaccine or flat-earth groups.
- These groups often turn into echo chambers, where differing opinions are seen as attacks.
Guitarist and Audience Capture
- A guitarist's online audience shifted from music to politics after he commented on Eric Clapton's vaccine stance.
- This illustrates "audience capture," where creators cater to their audience's evolving interests, sometimes becoming more extreme.