Ex-googler, Tristan Harris of the Center for Humane Tech has a new article out in the New York Times proposing three solutions to help curb the harms of Big Tech
- Establish a new tax (a “downgrading tax”) on tech giants designed to a) make monetizing attention prohibitively expensive (more engagement and more time = more tax) and b) fund public education and quality journalism
- Develop new subscription services that empower and enable our offline lives (rather than replace them. These services would to compete with “free social media platforms that benefit from turning us into addicted, narcissistic extremists”)
- Support new technology that protects people from disinformation, malicious viral content, and tech-enabled distortions (e.g. deepfakes)
These suggestions move the ‘techlash’ (Big Tech backlash) beyond concerns over privacy, surveillance, and targeting. For Harris, these issues are important, but symptoms of a (more?) fundamental problem – the mismatch between the power of technology and the power of the human mind.
In a nutshell, Harris articulates a version of what psychologists have called the “maladapted mind” or mismatch hypothesis that suggests that the slow pace of human evolution and the fast pace of cultural change (including technology) means that our minds are better adapted to our hunter-gatherer Pleistocene past (where 95% of human evolution took place – the EEA – Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness) than to today’s fast-changing world. In short, digital technology has the capacity to overwhelm our prehistoric brains by exploiting the biases, vulnerabilities, and limitations of evolved human nature:
- Our need for social validation renders us addicted to “likes”, which “destroy our attention spans”
- Our Paleolithic brains are drawn to “outrage and angry tweets”, undermining rational democratic debate
- Our susceptibility to attention-grabbing sensationalist content is exploited by content algorithms and automatic recommendation, leading to the proliferation of conspiracy theories and extremism
- Our vulnerability to “radical content, incubated in insular online communities, would continue to inspire mass shootings”
- Our fragile mental health is undermined by cyberbulling and online social pressure
But are our minds really no match for today’s technology? It’s an idea that has some support, but it depends on who you ask. Evolutionary psychologists may point to this “maladapted mind” or mismatch hypothesis that is understood as a major cause of psychopathology. Other psychologists will claim the human mind is extraordinarily adaptable and resilient. We learned to cope with the onslaught of printed misinformation and propaganda that arrived with the Gutenberg press, and we’ll learn to deal with digital disinformation. The mind is not fragile, it is anti-fragile.
Whichever side of the debate you land on, it’s difficult to disagree with Harris’ final point that what we need above all is a positive vision for technology that builds on human strengths (including our capacity for self-awareness, critical thinking, reasoned debate, and reflection), rather than obsesses over digital harms.
We made technology better so I guess it is the other way around.
I hold a steadfast belief that technology plays a distinctive role, while acknowledging the fundamental differences that exist between our brains and the capabilities of technology.
I don’t really think so. Technology can change jobs, not people.
I always believe that the technology has a unique role and our brains is way too different.
Really great post admin thanks for sharing this.
You need to know exactly why you need to automate a particular business process. For example, increasing productivity, minimizing errors and harmful factors while performing multiple tasks at the same time, reducing costs, increasing sales, and so on.
You’re welcome! I’m glad you found the post valuable. If you have any more questions or if there’s anything else I can help you with, feel free to ask!
Email marketing is another cost-effective strategy. It is focused on retaining customers, as well as attracting new ones. It is also a completely exceptional method of spreading brand awareness and encouraging repeat purchases
You can find out if a particular dating agency could be the actual aspect of the marriage bond. Creative dating experts offer a wide variety of themed wedding invitations. There is a gift card on a website that allows users to print the wedding invitation from a personal computer. This way, you can print your wedding invitations anytime.
Our brains haven’t evolved enough yet, and it’s incredibly difficult for them to be in such a world!
Look at how things have evolved with technology ?!
Who can keep up with them, no one!
I think they connect together. Use of technology can alter the brain’s structural makeup.
thank you for this post i am very thankfull
Users of this application can enjoy simultaneous access to multiple TV channels at any given time. thank you for this post
In some cases, it is possible to alter particular settings by utilizing configuration files that are located outside of the game. Please look for the game’s configuration files, which are typically found in the directory where the game was installed, and determine whether or not you are able to make changes right there.
For reliable and fast internet browsing, UC Browser is my top recommendation. Its features and performance are outstanding!
I’ve been using the Meitu Mod APK and love it! The advanced editing tools and beautiful filters take my photos to the next level. Definitely recommend trying it out!
The integration of AI across various sectors not only promises to enhance productivity but also opens up new opportunities in the job market, creating a vibrant future for both local talent and international experts in this evolving digital landscape.