Friday, May 09, 2025

Nobel Laureate Stiglitz: Musk, Zuck Lack Moral Values

Stiglitz doesn't mince words. He argues that today's social platforms -- particularly X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram -- function as propaganda machines with a reach far beyond anything history has seen. Their ability to shape political discourse, influence elections, and polarize societies happens almost instantaneously and at a massive scale.

Posted by Corky at 04:30 PM | 6 COMMENTS | permalink

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Now out, a compilation of my writing on inequality and what we can do about it. Published by @oxfordunipress.bsky.social. Available to order and will ship on April 6: global.oup.com/academic/pro ...

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-- Joseph E. Stiglitz (@josephestiglitz.bsky.social) March 27, 2025 at 11:05 AM

Comments

This isn't about the platforms alone - it's about the people designing the algorithms behind them. For Stiglitz, Musk and Zuckerberg have built ecosystems where algorithmic amplification, powered by personal data collection, fuels engagement, controversy, and division - all in the name of profit and power.

He links these mechanisms to the rise of populism and the erosion of democratic institutions, a theme explored in his recent book The Road to Freedom.

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2025-05-08 10:36 PM

Musk, Zuck Lack Moral Values

That's a feature, not a bug.

#2 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-05-09 05:38 PM

ALL BILLIONAIRES ARE CRIMINALS

#3 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-05-09 06:44 PM

@#1 ... the algorithms behind them. For Stiglitz, Musk and Zuckerberg have built ecosystems where algorithmic amplification, powered by personal data collection, fuels engagement, controversy, and division - all in the name of profit and power. ...

Well, yeah.

The purpose of those algorithms is to increase participation in the various sites, to get more people to participate and give up their personal data, the latter is subsequently sold.

How is that accomplished? By sowing divisiveness, encouraging controversy. All to generate more of the precious traffic.


#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-05-09 07:01 PM

It doesn't take a Nobel laureate to see how amoral they are.

#5 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-05-10 03:38 PM

If we are raised in a family that makes it all about power, children get produced that live by jungle rules...live or die, predator or prey, losers and suckers beware...

#6 | Posted by Hughmass at 2025-05-11 06:57 AM

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