Our Social Media 'Bespoke Realities'

Mona welcomes Renée DiResta to discuss how social media has distorted our perceptions and how to navigates the world of influencers, online mobs, and lairs.

The Mona Charen Show is a weekly, one-on-one discussion that goes in depth on political and cultural topics. Ad-free editions are exclusively available for Bulwark+ members. Add the show to your player of choice, here, or find it wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. Not yet a member? Join The Bulwark today!

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References:

Books & Authors:

• "Invisible Rulers" – by Renée DiResta (Main topic of discussion)
  
  

Historical References:

• Father Coughlin & Propaganda (1930s) – Discussion of his use of radio for anti-Semitic and pro-Nazi propaganda, and how he was eventually stopped.
  
  
• Institute for Propaganda Analysis (1930s) – Early efforts to combat misinformation by teaching people how propaganda works.
  
  

Academic & Media References:

• Helen Lewis (The Atlantic) – Quoted for stating that “the internet is built to empower extremophiles.”
  
  
• Google's Assertive Provenance Report – Discussion of how Google suggests approaches for watermarking and authenticating AI-generated content.
  
  

Key Topics Discussed:

Misinformation & Social Media Dynamics

1. Iowa Caucuses (2012 vs. 2020) – How political narratives and distrust in election results evolved.
   
   
2. Measles Outbreak & Anti-Vaccine Misinformation – How misinformation spreads and how online movements gain traction.
   
   
3. Algorithmic Influence & Content Curation – The role of algorithms in shaping political extremism and public perceptions.
   
   
4. QAnon & Wayfair Conspiracy Theory – How misinformation led to real-world harassment and threats.
   
   
5. COVID-19 & Public Trust in Institutions – How institutional silence and slow responses allowed misinformation to fill the gap.
   
   
6. Decline of Trust in Experts – How institutions and scientists need to engage more effectively online.
   
   
7. Influencers & Audience Capture – How social media personalities can be driven toward extremism by audience demands.
   
   

Solutions & Strategies

1. Pre-bunking – Educating people in advance about misinformation tactics.
   
   
2. Adding Friction – Using design interventions (like Twitter’s “Are you sure you want to share this?”) to slow down misinformation.
   
   
3. Virality Circuit Breakers – Temporary restrictions on the spread of viral misinformation while it is fact-checked.
   
   
4. Watermarking AI-generated Content – Challenges and limitations in identifying AI-created media.
   
   
5. Institutional Preparedness – Advice for organizations on handling misinformation crises.