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Making Sense of Social Media and the Information Landscape | Episode 8 of The Essential Sam Harris

Making Sense with Sam Harris

NOTE

Social Media: The Battle Between Our Brain and Supercomputers

Social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok utilize their supercomputing infrastructure to keep users engaged for longer periods of time. They use predictive analytics to determine the perfect next video or content to show users, activating their brain's desire for more. On the other side, our prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for goal articulation and self-discipline, is no match for the computational power of these supercomputers. The asymmetry between our brain and supercomputers is similar to the asymmetry between an average chess player and Gary Kasparov. While we may think a few moves ahead, Kasparov can think millions, but even he is outmatched by a supercomputer that can think billions of moves ahead. The exponential degree of asymmetry in this battle means that social media platforms know us and our weaknesses better than we know ourselves.

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