5 Comments
User's avatar
Rosa Brand's avatar

Thank you for this post - this is an incredibly multifaceted problem presented here in a very clear and concise way. I particularly like that you present potential solutions, none of which seem impossible to implement - which made me wonder about the role of agency in this context. As humans are increasingly treated as consumers rather than citizens, I feel like we have been lulled into a state of passivity. So even when people recognise these problems, they (and I include myself here!) don’t feel like they have any power to enact change. This would then stop in its tracks the collective action you mention as being required to tackle the problem. How do we change that mindset from passive consumer to active citizen?

Expand full comment
Manlio De Domenico's avatar

Agency is the key! Listen also to the podcast episode.

Bottom-up approaches can make the difference, never give up!

Expand full comment
Rosa Brand's avatar

🙏🏻 thank you, will listen to it!

Expand full comment
incze's avatar

agency don't come easy. with every piece of commodity we give up a piece of competence. metaphorically, even in imminent danger, we don't try to defend ourselves, instead we cry for police. and the more educated you are (and see/guess the complexity of things) the more you will rely on experts, and social/official organizations

Expand full comment
Sergio Luna's avatar

I couldn’t agree more and in fact I am working myself in some of these ideas - hopefully I will be able to share soon - in the meantime I might suggest you add to your framework the concept of strong vs weak links in terms of connectivity. Social Media Platforms can lead to all the pernicious effects you outline when pre-existing social links are weak as the effect is equivalent to undermining social trust. Jean Tirole has a recent, superb paper on this subject “Digital Dystopia”.

Expand full comment