New LA Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong didn’t hold back when asked about social media on Wednesday, saying it could have “dangerous” long-term societal ramifications.
“The short attention span we [are] now creating within this millennium is actually very dangerous,” Soon-Shiong told CNBC. “It’s the unintended consequences of social media. And I said this is the cancer of our time, and social media is a form of metastasis of news. We need to change that paradigm.”
Soon-Shiong echoed growing concerns over the impact that tech staples like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have on our mental well-being. Tristan Harris, a former Google engineer turned Silicon Valley critic, warned of the “unnatural social validation” users get from the dopamine rush of a “like” or “share.” The rush ends up rewiring the brain and leads to users being addicted to their screens.
“It’s not really fair,” Harris told TheWrap earlier this year. “Most people don’t even realize behind the screens are supercomputers that are calculating which video to notify you that was just published that is most likely to make you stay and watch another one, or which item in the news feed to show you. This is a totally unique situation in history.”
After buying the Times in June, Soon-Shiong has invested in new reporter positions and moved its headquarters from downtown Los Angeles to El Segundo. When asked about Facebook — a platform many publishers have complained about, despite its necessity — Soon-Shiong called it an ad-focused business that “cannot differentiate” between “so-called fake news,” “real news” and “opinion news.”
10 Most Shocking Russian Troll Posts on Facebook and Instagram, From Hillary Clinton to Police Brutality (Photos)
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released more than 3,500 advertisements and posts spread by Russian trolls before and after the 2016 U.S. election. Below is a look at 10 of the most shocking examples that stood out from Congress's reveal.
House Intelligence Committee
Many posts pushed the narrative that Hillary Clinton would confiscate guns if she were elected President.
House Intelligence Committee
This graphic meme painted cops as KKK members attacking a young black child.
House Intelligence Committee
Only "sissies" and other undesirables wouldn't support Donald Trump, many of the memes said.
House Intelligence Committee
President Obama was a "pawn" and "traitor" in the hands of "Arabian Sheikhs," said one 2016 ad.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Black Matters US" page touched on hot button issues like police shootings.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Army of Jesus" page shared a bible verse, along with this meme.
House Intelligence Committee
Russian trolls also used Instagram to spread sponsored political memes.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Blacktivist" page routinely shared memes on Colin Kaepernick and other football players kneeling during the national anthem.
House Intelligence Committee
"Heart of Texas" routinely posted on "Killary Rotten Clinton," and threatened to secede from the union if she won the election.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Being Patriotic" page labeled ex-cons as "Obama voters."
House Intelligence Committee
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Congress just released 3,500 posts touching on a myriad of topics
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released more than 3,500 advertisements and posts spread by Russian trolls before and after the 2016 U.S. election. Below is a look at 10 of the most shocking examples that stood out from Congress's reveal.