Politics feels angrier, harsher and more tribal than it used to - but how much of the blame can be laid at the door of social media?

Rafael Behr talks to NYU Psychologist Professor Jay Van Bavel, about how our ancient group instincts collide with 'god-like' digital technology to distort what we see, reward outrage, and erode trust in democratic institutions.

Drawing on datasets of millions of social media posts, Professor Van Bavel discusses how; a tiny minority can dominate the online political conversation; platforms can make people seem more extreme, and silence the moderate voices. He also discusses what can be done about it; from redesigning incentives and rebuilding solidarity across group lines; to the small, practical choices individuals can make to resist the pull of performative moral outrage.

Jay Van Bavel's professional website - with links to academic papers

https://www.jayvanbavel.com

Inside the funhouse mirror factory: How social media distorts perceptions of norms

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352250X24001313

How to strengthen democracy

https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2022/08/how-to-strengthen-democracy

Heineken Advert

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3a8MdloAAM&themeRefresh=1

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