Big Picture Science

Post Social Media*

Jun 3, 2024

Max Fisher from The New York Times discusses the evolutionary reasons humans can't thrive on social media. Douglas Rushkoff explores tech billionaires' extreme preparations. Alex Mesoudi talks about the impact of social media on human cognition. The podcast explores the cultural evolution and potential changes in the social media landscape.

56:12

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Episode guests

Max Fisher

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Quick takeaways

Social media platforms are facing a decline due to extreme behavior and financial incentives.

Tech billionaires are preparing for societal collapse caused by their technological advancements.

Algorithms manipulate users' emotions on social media, leading to behavioral changes and potential offline effects.

Deep dives

Evolution of Social Media Behaviors

Social media platforms are facing a decline as societal behavior changes. The podcast explores how cultural anthropologists have observed extreme conduct on social media and the financial incentives influencing it. The evolutionary mismatch between human nature and social media may lead to significant consequences for the future of these platforms.

Introduction

2min

Tech Billionaires and Their Extreme Preparations

15min

Exploring the Origins and Impact of Social Media Platforms

2min

The Role of Social Media in Fueling Ethnic Violence and Outrage

16min

Exploring the Influence of Social Media and Tech Industry Evolution

2min

The Impact of Social Media on Human Cognition

6min

Cultural Evolution and Social Media Landscape

9min

Reflections on Social Media Impact and Potential Changes

3min

Before you check your social media feeds today. And post. And post again. And get into an argument on Twitter, lose track of time and wonder where the morning went, consider that social media was never a natural way to socialize.

A cultural anthropologist weighs in on the evolutionary reasons humans can’t thrive on social media. And we hear about the signs that social media is on its way out. If that’s the case, what’s next?

Guests:

Max Fisher – Reporter for The New York Times, author of “The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World”

Douglas Rushkoff – Professor of media theory and digital economics at City University of New York, and author of “Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires”

Ian Bogost – Professor of Media Studies and computer science at Washington University in St. Louis and a contributing writer at The Atlantic.

Alex Mesoudi – Professor of Cultural Evolution at the University of Exeter, U.K.

*Originally aired February 20, 2023

Featuring music by Dewey Dellay and Jun Miyake

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Big Picture Science

Post Social Media*

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Evolution of Social Media Behaviors

Tech Billionaires' Retreat Plans

Manipulation on Social Media Platforms

Harmful Effects of Social Media

The Need for Downscaling Social Media

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts