We've been merging with tools since the beginning of human evolution, and arguably, that's one of the things that makes us human beings.
Franklin FoerRead
The biggest problem is that Facebook and Google are these giant feedback loops that give people what they want to hear. And when you use them in a world where your biases are being constantly confirmed, you become susceptible to fake news, propaganda, demagoguery.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Social media platforms can reinforce our biases, leading to misinformation and manipulation.
Franklin Foer highlights the dangers of social media giants, such as Facebook and Google, which create feedback loops that cater to users' preferences. This environment fosters confirmation bias, making individuals vulnerable to false information, propaganda, and persuasive rhetoric, ultimately impacting public discourse and understanding.
Themes
Social MediaBiasMisinformationPropagandaFeedback Loop
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about media literacy, this quote could illustrate the challenges of discerning truth amidst rampant misinformation.
More from Franklin Foer
All quotes →I grew up using maps and having a sense of direction, and now I have a phone. I used to try to remember numbers, and now I... can just call them up instantly. And that's great. But what's happening right now is that we're in a phase of human evolution where we're merging with machines.
Franklin FoerRead
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