Programming people to be hateful and stupid goes waaaaaay back before Zuck and Xitter. The Spanish-American War is a pretty solid example, but there are so many others.
It is different, in lots of ways. “Back then” there were a lot more captive audiences, people who had no access to any other sources of information. So, while we’re in 24/7 saturation, we also have the option to “switch the channel”
Unfortunately, once somebody has decided what they want to hear, they can “switch the channel” until they find one that reinforces whatever that may be, from “The Earth is Flat” onward… Still, “The Truth is Out There” and you can access more of it, if you really want to / know how to, than ever before.
Programming people to be hateful and stupid goes waaaaaay back before Zuck and Xitter. The Spanish-American War is a pretty solid example, but there are so many others.
Yeah but they couldn’t reach people on a 24/7 basis back then. It is different now because of technology.
It is different, in lots of ways. “Back then” there were a lot more captive audiences, people who had no access to any other sources of information. So, while we’re in 24/7 saturation, we also have the option to “switch the channel”
Unfortunately, once somebody has decided what they want to hear, they can “switch the channel” until they find one that reinforces whatever that may be, from “The Earth is Flat” onward… Still, “The Truth is Out There” and you can access more of it, if you really want to / know how to, than ever before.