social-media-and-social-movements

In the afterword of The Influencing Machine, Brooke Gladstone reflects on the evolution and impact of social media platforms over the past decade, emphasizing how dopamine-driven algorithms exploit human psychology to capture attention and erode societal values such as honesty, kindness, and personal focus. She critiques the business models of major platforms like Facebook for amplifying misinformation and societal division, while also acknowledging social media's role in mobilizing social justice movements. Ultimately, she calls for collective action to demand media that respects human dignity and moral capacity.