The Gray Area with Sean Illing Clickbait’s destructive legacy
36 snips
Jun 5, 2023 
Ben Smith, editor-in-chief of Semafor and author of "Traffic," dives into the chaotic world of digital media. He highlights how social media has reshaped journalism and political culture, prioritizing clicks over integrity. The discussion unpacks the evolution of content creation and its impact on society, revealing the darker side of virality and audience engagement. Smith also examines the shift from institutional trust to individual loyalty in media, raising questions about the future of journalism amidst AI and the complexities of trust in the digital age.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Denton and Peretti's Visions
- Nick Denton and Jonah Peretti envisioned the internet transforming media.
- Denton prioritized giving people what they actually wanted, even if it was gossip or porn, while Peretti focused on positive content.
Peretti's 'Sweatshop' Incident
- Jonah Peretti's 'sweatshop' Nike shoe incident led him to explore viral media's power.
- He recognized that social media would be driven by users sharing content that reflected positively on themselves.
Differing Philosophies on Traffic
- Denton believed traffic reflected editorial quality, while Peretti viewed it as distribution.
- Peretti focused on the psychology of sharing, believing people shared content that reflected well on them.
