Those of us inside the western world and yet outside of elite power structures find ourselves in a tough situation. The truth, or at least the naked, unbiased version, can be hard to come by in the digital age. And our efforts to take in the news can in some ways make us sick.

Aside from pockets of solid independent writers and podcasters we have a very narrative driven corporate clickbait media. At the same time, we’re hopelessly addicted to the devices which deliver it. These factors and others combine to drive all kinds of problems around sensemaking which is the process by which we organize what we see and read and feel in the world. 

The CNN versus Fox cable news landscape is a friction causing dynamic where two completely different realities are presented through a diet of fear and outrage porn. The web space has a similar left/right structure each outlet catering only to one group’s sense of panic and excitement because that’s what grabs eyeballs and brings in ad revenue. This isn’t to say that there isn’t manipulation of the public for let’s say political or statecraft purposes but rather that the profit motive is primary. Either way public debate is debased in this environment…far south of what would constitute meaningful dialectic until common ground seems no longer a goal. 

When we tune into what the devices are serving up by design we become limbically hijacked, zombified by algorithms and curated content on our social media pages. Silicon valley heavies like Tristan Harris (above) formerly of Google and creator of the Netflix film “The Social Dilemma,” are ringing the alarm bell themselves. Jaron Lanier who created the very first virtual reality device is doing the same. They tell us that when we “join” and “like” and “click” we help the A.I. pick what type of teasy garbage news or conspiracy content to feed us in order to steal 14 hours out of our day. 

According to Tristan interfacing with A.I. is asymmetrical. It’s exponentially more intelligent than any user. It runs mathematical simulations all day on the population throwing different pieces of content in different orders to people of different cultures and psychological makeups. Each day it grows more efficient and more intelligent, far more actually, so it knows exactly what to feed people and when in order to increase “time on-site” among other things.

And this technology also allows us to be trapped in echo-chambers of confirmation bias where no matter how outrageous our opinions get they won’t be challenged or corrected in these types of in-group spaces. This is perhaps one of the most destructive aspects because it means that we don’t meaningfully interact with those who don’t hold our view of the world. Instead we scream and shout and shame and attack anything we perceive to have come from the other side.

We’re divided and deranged collectively by these processes to the point where one of the most important components of democracy breaks down on both sides. And that is the consent of the losers of elections to be governed by the winners. These are the foibles of Bananna Republics. This is highly destabilizing for society. 

For more on Tristan Harris’s work check him out at The Center for Humane Technology.