The Gatekeepers • BBC

Dive into "The Gatekeepers," a gripping exploration of the urgent challenges social media platforms face in an era rife with digital disinformation. As hosts Donald Trump, Jamie Bartlett, Maria Ressa, and others reveal, foreign governments, particularly Russia, have leveraged these platforms to meddle in political affairs, as seen in the US elections. Discover how Facebook and Twitter executives grapple with the use of their sites for sophisticated voter manipulation—a startling testament to the complexities in curbing foreign interference.

As the episode unfolds, the pressing issue of misinformation and its rampant spread on platforms like Facebook takes center stage. Delve into the economic underpinnings that fuel fake news, where profit-driven individuals outpace foreign actors in spreading falsehoods, amplified by algorithms that prioritize engagement over accuracy. Meanwhile, tech giants like Facebook and Google confront the harsh reality of being unprepared for such disinformation campaigns, with executives like Zuckerberg facing the consequences before US Senate committees. Through this compelling dialogue, witness the transformative journey of tech companies as they transition from resistance to reluctant acceptance of their pivotal role in moderating content.

Dive into the intricate relationship between social media and shaping public opinion on "The Gatekeepers," with speakers including Jamie Bartlett, Barack Obama, Chris Wetherell, Arturo BeGal, Ruth Moss, Brianna Wu, and Maria Ressa. This compelling discussion unpacks how tools developed to democratize information and empower voices have paradoxically become conduits for division and misinformation. Highlighting seminal events such as Obama's campaign and the Gamergate controversy, the speakers examine the unintended consequences of features like Twitter's retweet button, the evolution of user behavior, and the alarming power these platforms hold in amplifying conflicting narratives and social tensions.

Balancing user safety with the imperative of user engagement emerges as a formidable challenge for social media companies, a dichotomy deeply explored in this podcast episode of "The Gatekeepers." Hear the poignant account of a young girl whose exposure to dangerous content had tragic outcomes, underscoring the disquieting side effects of the industry’s focus on monetization over moderation. The session underscores the profound impact social media has had on the psychology of its users, catalyzing a disconnect in online social norms and responsibilities with real-world implications, proposing a provocative inquiry into the responsibilities of the virtual gatekeepers of today's digital society.

Discover the mechanics behind Facebook's climb to social media supremacy in "The Gatekeepers" latest episode, featuring speakers like Jamie Bartlett and Sheryl Sandberg. The episode delves into the aggressive growth strategy known as 'blitzscaling'—a method that propelled Facebook's rapid expansion and revolutionized business models within the tech industry. The strategy's reliance on strategic investments, an acute emphasis on data, and an innovative approach to monetization are explored, revealing how Facebook secured its status as a social media giant.

Learn about the profound influence of 'mimetic desire' on Facebook's initial investments, as explained by investor Peter Thiel, and how these insights drove the platform's user growth and pursuit of monopoly. Delve into the inner workings of Facebook's growth strategies from firsthand accounts like those of Jeff Hammerbacher, as the episode sheds light on the early focus on growth, international expansion, and the transformation of user data into a lucrative asset for targeted advertising that heralded a new era for tech businesses.

Delve into the origins and contemporary challenges of social media with "The Gatekeepers," as the likes of Larry Brilliant and Stewart Brand explore the counterculture roots that have shaped our digital landscape. The latest episode illuminates how early platforms like The Whole Earth Catalog and The WELL set the stage for a future where information and liberation were intertwined. From the pragmatic pages of Brand's catalogue to Steve Jobs' vision of technology, learn about the foundational belief that the internet could serve as a tool for empowerment and revolutionize access to knowledge, eliminating traditional gatekeepers in favor of personal computers and online communities.

Fast forward to the era of Big Tech, and we find ourselves grappling with the enormous influence and power these corporate giants wield over our daily exchanges, democracy, and personal freedoms. In a discussion featuring insights from key figures like Mark Zuckerberg and Jon Ronson, "The Gatekeepers" tackles the urgent debate around regulating the might of platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google. Unpack the contentious issues of content moderation, the impact of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, and the delicate balance these companies must strike in combating misinformation, as underscored by the perspectives of Twitter's Anika Collier Navaroli and Yoel Roth.