How Influencers and Algorithms Undermine Democracy — and How to Fight Back

KQED's Forum

KQED

News Commentary, News, Politics

4.2 • 727 Ratings

🗓️ 18 June 2024

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“If you make it trend, you make it true,” argues online propaganda expert Renée DiResta. Her new book examines what she calls the “invisible rulers” of today — influencers, algorithms and crowds. While some influencers have made good on social media’s promises of media democratization, others saturate our feeds with propaganda, disinformation and rumors that cause IRL harm. These influencers’ motivations, DiResta argues, are rooted in profit as much as — if not more than — ideology. We’ll talk to DiResta about how content moderation, systems design and policy can prevent and blunt the reach of online propaganda — and how we can strive for consensus in a fractured society. Her new book is “Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality.” Guests: Renée DiResta, former technical research manager, Stanford Internet Observatory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Support for KQED podcasts comes from San Francisco International Airport.
0:05.3	You can fly back in time and visit SFO's Aviation Museum and Library to learn about the history of commercial aviation.
0:12.2	No boarding pass needed. Learn more at flysafo.com slash museum.
0:17.0	Support for forum comes from Broadway SF, presenting Parade, the musical revival based on a true story.
0:24.8	From three-time Tony-winning composer Jason Robert Brown comes the story of Leo and Lucille Frank,
0:31.2	a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in Georgia. When Leo is accused of an
0:36.9	unspeakable crime, it propels them into an
0:39.7	unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice, and devotion. The riveting and gloriously hopeful
0:47.1	parade plays the Orpheum Theater for three weeks only, May 20th through June 8th. Tickets
0:53.6	on sale now at Broadwaysf.com.
0:58.0	From KQED in San Francisco, this is Forum.
1:18.0	I'm Mina Kim.
1:19.2	The narrative has long been that politicians, the media, and other institutional authorities
1:23.7	hold the power when it comes to shaping public opinion.
1:26.9	But Renee DeResta says that really
1:29.0	no longer applies in today's fragmented internet-enabled world exploited by niche propagandists
1:35.5	who tell millions of followers what to do and think. DeRessa's new book called Invisible Rulers
1:40.8	looks at how effective these propagandists have become at undermining institutions,
1:46.0	resisting facts and evidence, and turning lies into reality. But Deresta also has thoughts on
1:52.1	how to push back. We learn more after this news.
2:00.7	Welcome to Forum. I'm Mina Kim. Online propaganda expert Renee Duresta says a new system of persuasion has been transforming society, powered by social media influencers who are amplified by algorithms and crowds. The impact is what we're seeing now, an erosion of trust in the
2:20.2	institutions that make society function in our relationship to government. And a climate of fear
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from KQED, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of KQED and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.