In the past 10 years (especially 2011-15), something "went terribly wrong, very suddenly. We are disoriented, unable to speak the same language or recognize the same truth."
What happened:
The early internet looked like "a boon to democracy": "Myspace, Friendster, and Facebook made it easy to connect with friends and strangers to talk about common interests, for free, and at a scale never before imaginable."
Instead, the "Like" button, retweet and comments "encouraged dishonesty and mob dynamics."
Of three major forces that collectively bind together successful democracies, social media "has weakened all three ... social capital (extensive social networks with high levels of trust), strong institutions, and shared stories." Continue here....
-- Jonathan Haidt
