zlacker

The difference between social media and all the other media you mentioned isn't the format (still mostly just images, text, and video like the old media) or in its content (Sturgeon's Law is universal); it's in the ability to disseminate messages to a global audience instantaneously, and the careful curation of that content to drive engagement.

The clear result of this algorithm has been to happily send lies, misinformation, emotionally manipulative opinions, and other content at a scale and speed that was never achieved by a New York Times bestseller, MTV, or Rockstar Games.

All media has always exploited our cognitive biases and irrationality to its end; but to do it worldwide and simultaneously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without rest or remorse, is pure stochastic terror.

Move fast and break things indeed.