Episode 20 – How to Break Free from Social Media’s Outrage Cycle – Yevgeny Simkin 

Yevgeny Simkin discusses the damaging effects of social media and the need for structural changes in the media landscape. He argues that while social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter can be harmful, there are other social media platforms like Stack Overflow and LinkedIn that are beneficial because they incentivize positive behavior and focus on reputation. Simkin suggests that social media platforms can be modified to encourage civil discourse and kindness by changing their incentive structures. He also emphasizes the importance of finding alternative monetization schemes for news media that do not rely on clickbait and sensationalism. Simkin believes that the media's focus on outrage and division is misleading and that people are not as divided as they seem. He calls for more compassionate and tolerant conversations to bridge the minor differences that are blown out of proportion. Simkin also discusses the need for a unifying external threat to bring people together and the importance of hope and kindness in society.

About The Guest:
Yevgeny Simkin is a journalist, technologist, and media expert. He has written extensively about the detrimental effects of sensationalism, clickbait, and divisive content in modern media. Simkin is also the founder of Samizdat Online, an anti-censorship platform that defies autocratic regimes and gives voice to the silenced.

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Show Notes:
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Also check out our companion podcasts, This Week in Outrage and Outrage Science Bites.

Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C.

Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen.

Outrage Overload, a Conners Institute podcast, is part of The Democr...