Donald Trump has successfully used xenophobia and fake concerns about propaganda and national security to get what he’s long wanted: TikTok (and its fat ad revenues) are poised to be sold off…
I’d even go so far as to say it’s a dual-dopamine-plus-cortisol device. For as many things on the internet that give people joy, there are probably as many if not more things that make people angry. And the algorithms are very good and pressing both buttons simultaneously (the meme of a superhero sweating looking at two buttons need not apply).
A little bit of everything, all of the time, perfectly optimized to exaggerate whatever tendencies or interests you have into a targetted, pigeonholed exaggeration.
It destroys the capacity for critical thought, reduces everything to inter and intra group, micro or macro politics…
I’d even go so far as to say it’s a dual-dopamine-plus-cortisol device. For as many things on the internet that give people joy, there are probably as many if not more things that make people angry. And the algorithms are very good and pressing both buttons simultaneously (the meme of a superhero sweating looking at two buttons need not apply).
Yes, I was oversimplifying a bit.
It is also cortisol… it is so many other things.
A little bit of everything, all of the time, perfectly optimized to exaggerate whatever tendencies or interests you have into a targetted, pigeonholed exaggeration.
It destroys the capacity for critical thought, reduces everything to inter and intra group, micro or macro politics…
And all of it… ostensibly, to sell fucking ads.