How Algorithms Manipulate What We See — And Who Really Controls the Truth

Tara sits down with Imran Ahmed, founder of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, for a live panel at South by Southwest on who owns the truth in an algorithmic world. They discuss how algorithms have become outrage machines, why independent journalism is both empowered and threatened by platforms, and how bad actors — from neo-Nazis to algorithm candidates — have weaponized social media. Imran reveals how Mark Zuckerberg dialed down Facebook's negativity algorithm on January 6th and turned it back up the next day, why TikTok serves self-harm content to 13-year-old girls within minutes, and why he believes we may be witnessing the slow erosion of democracy itself. Plus: Tara shares her journey from Jersey girl to White House correspondent to independent media entrepreneur, and what it's really like to be beholden to the algorithm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices