Description
From a New York Times investigative reporter, this “authoritative and devastating account of the impacts of social media” (New York Times Book Review) tracks the high-stakes inside story of how Big Tech’s breakneck race to drive engagement—and profits—at all costs fractured the world. The Chaos Machine is “an essential book for our times” (Ezra Klein).
We all have a vague sense that social media is bad for our minds, for our children, and for our democracies. But the truth is that its reach and impact run far deeper than we have understood. Building on years of international reporting, Max Fisher tells the gripping and galling inside story of how Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social network preyed on psychological frailties to create the algorithms that drive everyday users to extreme opinions and, increasingly, extreme actions. As Fisher demonstrates, the companies’ founding tenets, combined with a blinkered focus on maximizing engagement, have led to a destabilized world for everyone. Traversing the planet, Fisher tracks the ubiquity of hate speech and its spillover into violence, ills that first festered in far-off locales, to their dark culmination in America during the pandemic, the 2020 election, and the Capitol Insurrection. Through it all, the social-media giants refused to intervene in any meaningful way, claiming to champion free speech when in fact what they most prized were limitless profits.
The result, as Fisher shows, is a cultural shift toward a world in which people are polarized not by beliefs based on facts, but by misinformation, outrage, and fear. His narrative is about more than the villains, however. Fisher also weaves together the stories of the heroic outsiders and Silicon Valley defectors who raised the alarm and revealed what was happening behind the closed doors of Big Tech. Both panoramic and intimate, The Chaos Machine is the definitive account of the meteoric rise and troubled legacy of the tech titans, as well as a rousing and hopeful call to arrest the havoc wreaked on our minds and our world before it’s too late.
Details
The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World is a groundbreaking book that unveils the dark truths behind social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Written by esteemed New York Times investigative reporter, Max Fisher, this book takes you on a mesmerizing journey through the relentless pursuit of engagement and profits by Big Tech. Fisher's extensive research and international reporting reveal the alarming reality of how these platforms prey on psychological vulnerabilities to manipulate user behavior.
Have you ever wondered how the rise of social media has affected our mental health, the minds of our children, and even the stability of our democracies? Fisher's authoritative and devastating account shines a spotlight on the far-reaching impact of social media that goes well beyond what we previously understood. With compelling narratives and real-world examples, Fisher demonstrates how the founding principles of these tech giants, combined with their obsession with maximizing engagement, have contributed to a fractured and destabilized world.
Tracing the pervasive spread of hate speech and its dangerous consequences, Fisher takes you on a global journey from its origins in distant corners of the world to its shocking climax during America's monumental events, such as the pandemic, the 2020 election, and the Capitol Insurrection. Despite mounting evidence and societal damage, the social media giants have consistently prioritized profits over responsibility, hiding behind the facade of championing free speech.
However, The Chaos Machine is not just about exposing the villains. Fisher intertwines stories of heroic outsiders and defectors from Silicon Valley who risked everything to blow the whistle on the hidden reality of Big Tech. This book offers a panoramic view of the meteoric rise and troubled legacy of these tech titans, while also inspiring hope for change before it's too late for our minds and our world.
Discover the eye-opening revelations of The Chaos Machine and join the urgent call to address the havoc wreaked by social media on our society. It's time to take action and reclaim control over our own minds and the future of our world.
Discover More Best Sellers in Internet & Social Media
Shop Internet & Social Media
Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now
$9.99
Internet & Social Media - Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now
Glossy: Ambition, Beauty, and the Inside Story of Emily Weiss's Glossier
$22.17
Internet & Social Media - Glossy: Ambition, Beauty, and the Inside Story of Emily Weiss's Glossier
$23.60
Internet & Social Media - Ofertas de 100 M$: Cómo hacer ofertas tan buenas que la gente se sienta estúpida si las rechaza (Spanish Edition)
The Founders: The Story of Paypal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley
$19.68
Internet & Social Media - The Founders: The Story of Paypal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley
$22.45
Internet & Social Media - Expert Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Creating a Mass Movement of People Who Will Pay for Your Advice (1st Edition)
$14.99
Internet & Social Media - MONEY SHIPPING: How To Start A Profitable Amazon FBA Business In 11 Weeks: Optimize Your Profits and Go From Side Hustle to Passive Income With Minimal Effort (MONEY MAKING SERIES)
$7.90
Internet & Social Media - CHATGPT BOOK FOR BEGINNERS: Getting Started with ChatGPT, The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Use ChatGPT Effectively, Earn Money and Increase Your Productivity 10x
