When It Comes To Politics, The Internet Is Closing Our Minds

Topics: Politics, Tech

Public Release Date: April 17, 2012

Does the internet poison politics? It’s been argued that the rise of “personalization,” the use of algorithms to filter what you see online, and easy access to the like-minded, have served to reinforce our pre-conceptions. Is the information bubble a myth, or is it undermining civic discourse? Is the rise of social media really broadening our world views, or narrowing them?

ARGUING YES:

• Eli Pariser: Author of ‘The Filter Bubble’, Former MoveOn.org Board President

• Siva Vaidhyanathan: Chair of the Department of Media Studies for the University of Virginia, Author of ‘The Googlization of Everything’

ARGUING NO:

• Evgeny Morozov: Internet Scholar, Author of ‘The Net Delusion’

• Jacob Weisberg: Chairman & Editor-in-Chief of The Slate Group

MODERATOR-IN-CHIEF:

• John Donvan: Emmy award-winning journalist