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A review by marissavu
Mindf*ck: Cambridge Analytica and the Plot to Break America by Christopher Wylie
5.0
I finished reading this yesterday (jan 6 2021) as the inevitable results of everything Cambridge Analytica programmed into American culture reached the Capitol, and all that chaos and horrific stupidity made perfect logical sense in light of this book... down to the very words the Trump cultists speak (words that were specifically chosen by this company).
The US and so many other countries seem totally helpless in the face of algorithms and the use of Big Data and online behavioral manipulation. People like Bannon and the Mercers and Zuckerberg all the billionaires are left free to benefit from sowing chaos, hatred, division and distrust among groups that might otherwise have a chance at unifying, healing, working together on real common problems.
This is an engaging read with everything from personal conflicts to elaborate sting operations, but it's also an important book. These topics of information warfare, disinformation, radicalization, and social media manipulation should be on the front pages of every media outlet and taught in schools and workplaces so people can protect themselves. Online manipulation seems the most urgent issue of our time apart from climate change, which itself is only even an issue because of these same people who profit from spreading disinformation and distrust in science/experts.
The author outlines steps we could take to hold companies and social media platforms more accountable, but it seems the world is so far from even recognizing the problem that we'll do next to nothing about it, not even when they destroy lives, democracies and the environment.
And the people driving the disinformation and division know there are no real consequences to their behavior (algorithms and ideas can't be made accountable for the violence and other crimes they cause), so our huffing and puffing means nothing to them, nor do massive fines or court hearings. They're untouchable.
This book shines a light on a monster that is destroying our planet and cultures but is mostly invisible to the average person. It needs to be read by everyone. I just wish it had a better title and a less garish cheap-looking cover because it should be on everyone's shelf, and every single thread he mentions needs to be unraveled in the full light of day.
The US and so many other countries seem totally helpless in the face of algorithms and the use of Big Data and online behavioral manipulation. People like Bannon and the Mercers and Zuckerberg all the billionaires are left free to benefit from sowing chaos, hatred, division and distrust among groups that might otherwise have a chance at unifying, healing, working together on real common problems.
This is an engaging read with everything from personal conflicts to elaborate sting operations, but it's also an important book. These topics of information warfare, disinformation, radicalization, and social media manipulation should be on the front pages of every media outlet and taught in schools and workplaces so people can protect themselves. Online manipulation seems the most urgent issue of our time apart from climate change, which itself is only even an issue because of these same people who profit from spreading disinformation and distrust in science/experts.
The author outlines steps we could take to hold companies and social media platforms more accountable, but it seems the world is so far from even recognizing the problem that we'll do next to nothing about it, not even when they destroy lives, democracies and the environment.
And the people driving the disinformation and division know there are no real consequences to their behavior (algorithms and ideas can't be made accountable for the violence and other crimes they cause), so our huffing and puffing means nothing to them, nor do massive fines or court hearings. They're untouchable.
This book shines a light on a monster that is destroying our planet and cultures but is mostly invisible to the average person. It needs to be read by everyone. I just wish it had a better title and a less garish cheap-looking cover because it should be on everyone's shelf, and every single thread he mentions needs to be unraveled in the full light of day.