Social media and political polarization in America | 60 Minutes

The co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology tells Bill Whitaker social media companies are profiting off Americans’ online anger.
#60Minutes #News #SocialMedia
"60 Minutes" is the most successful television broadcast in history. Offering hard-hitting investigative reports, interviews, feature segments and profiles of people in the news, the broadcast began in 1968 and is still a hit, over 50 seasons later, regularly making Nielsen's Top 10.
Subscribe to the “60 Minutes” KZbin channel: bit.ly/1S7CLRu
Watch full episodes: cbsn.ws/1Qkjo1F
Get more “60 Minutes” from “60 Minutes: Overtime”: cbsn.ws/1KG3sdr
Follow “60 Minutes” on Instagram: bit.ly/23Xv8Ry
Like “60 Minutes” on Facebook: on. 1Xb1Dao
Follow “60 Minutes” on Twitter: bit.ly/1KxUsqX
Subscribe to our newsletter: cbsn.ws/1RqHw7T
Download the CBS News app: cbsn.ws/1Xb1WC8
Try Paramount+ free: bit.ly/2OiW1kZ
For video licensing inquiries, contact: [e-mail]

[@RoundingThird]

‘The business model is to ruin Thanksgiving dinner.’ So true.

[@tyy5557]

It has ruined mine several times.

[@JEMurl]

It's a real shame that 60 minutes has chosen to portray what is happening in America as "people's ideals clashing" instead of showing The People what is really going on: that the former president stole secret documents that put American Citizens and our Allies in danger. That the former president falsely claimed the election was rigged simply because he couldn't accept loosing. That thee former president let loose a mob of brainwashed maniacs upon thee Capitol building and that they almost killed this Nations servants.

[@mistrmistr6417]

Don't forget to include "Everything"!

[@user-tl1tb5rh5j]

It's not even about Thanksgiving. Hisv30 sec. Opening was a lie

[@scarpfish]

I sure wish we could see an alternate timeline in which social media was never a thing just so we could see by comparison how much damage it's done to society on our timeline.

[@dixonarc69]

It can be our reality. First step - don't make another comment on KZbin.

[@itsdarellcuh]

Sounds like a good film script

[@tugboat2030]

It's called the 1960s and 70s

[@Jabberstax]

Social media exists in every country yet it's only in America where it seems to widen division.

[@LafemmebearMusic]

@@tugboat2030 the problem is it’s a complex discussion. Because it might not matter to you, but brown black and lgbtq and poor people often intersecting demographics, suddenly got voices from not often having them. Realize in the 60s and 70s a lot of these groups had no real platforms. It’s pretty awful social media and it has given folx voices who normally don’t have them. So I guess what’s the best move?

[@Mr.Zen_73]

The only social media I use now is KZbin, and even then i'm really mindful of what I click on.

[@gabethedinosaur95]

I like KZbin too

[@DurgaDas96]

Me too…

[@jessepage8268]

Me 3

[@jessepage8268]

I'm glad that 60 minutes USA you can comment and share opinions unlike Aussie even though they cover good stories like what's happening in Taiwan and that the west should be preventing a war for the benefit of man kind

[@SurvivnIn508]

Same

[@44excalibur]

And this is why so many people miss the 1980s and 1990s.

[@marc8h726]

I don’t

[@NeroLeMorte]

I sure don't miss the diseases.

[@44excalibur]

@@NeroLeMorte You mean like Coronavirus pandemic?

[@44excalibur]

@@marc8h726 Yeah you do.

[@JEMurl]

It's a real shame that 60 minutes has chosen to portray what is happening in America as "people's ideals clashing" instead of showing The People what is really going on: that the former president stole secret documents that put American Citizens and our Allies in danger. That the former president falsely claimed the election was rigged simply because he couldn't accept loosing. That thee former president let loose a mob of brainwashed maniacs upon thee Capitol building and that they almost killed this Nations servants.

[@jackmedlock5888]

I am so glad that 60 minutes covered this topic.

[@jessmason2112]

No doubt.

[@bravocharlie639]

CBS covered the 2016 Campaign. Two Candidates were very popular: Trump and Bernie. CBS amd the networks talked about one Candidate's popularity but not about his background, the other Candidate was ignored completely. It is disingenuous for CBS' 60 Minutes to run a story about disinformation when Trump's background _predicted_ his Presidency whereas Bernie has a long political background and has consistently fought for the Working Class. Remember, it was Superdelegates that made Hillary Clinton the Democratic Nominee. CBS and ALL the major networks are not on the high ground here. They have themselves to ALSO blame for public discourse.

[@aaronthenorm5400]

Their are great vids on it on You-tube

[@kevinowens7452]

Jack.

[@wu7690]

@@hansgrubber6157 exactly

[@skittlekearse]

I deleted TikTok 1 year ago and I have been off Instagram for some months now (never had twitter). I quite literally was feeling myself get dumber and my attention span shortening. This is all true.

[@Filmfist]

Also deleted fb and Instagram. Feel great!

[@jewbego5323]

You're still gay

[@marvelmusic4566]

People should have much better things to do with lives than live online (which is actually an alternate reality where much of it is lie) and have thier lives revolve around tik-tok, twitter and Facebook. Just put the phone down, get off the computer and go outside and look around. Use YOUR mind to create your life, not someone else.

[@NeroLeMorte]

Twitter was always garbage anyways you dodged a huge bullet there.

[@juliethompson8685]

Off all SM and quite happier and healthier.

[@bravosierra2447]

“The extremes have been handed the power to dominate, even though they’re fewer in numbers” This is a very important comment/insight from the analysis that’s been conducted.

[@rickyrydell]

Seriously, you let comments on social media 'dominate' you? Grow a pair!

[@GladysAlicea]

Republican motto: Minority rules

[@tyy5557]

Very well said.

[@ianashmore9910]

@@rickyrydell It's got nothing to do with dominating the reader. It's about dominating the conversation.

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

Nobody is entitled to the status quo. There is nothing sacred about the status quo. The status quo IS an extremist position. I am sick & tired of using labels like "extreme" or "extremist" or "hatred" or "hate speech" to dismiss or to refuse to address someone's ideas POVs, without investigation, or deny them power in government. Fairness & justice are what matter & what should be optimized. NEVER just law & order for law's sake. Law & order IS government IS communism. It is just as stupid and fascist for anarchists to be fanatically anticommunist as it is for communists to be fanatically anti-anarchist/pro-communism/pro law & order just for law & order's sake. Government/laws are just tools. When they fail, don't use them.

[@cent20buck71]

"Bothsidesism" is why people are sick of mainstream media. MeidasTouch is about truth & democracy. Democracy is not a right or left issue. At least till now.

[@Iquey]

I heard this segment on the way back home on NPR in a friend's car radio. Glad I could find the rest of it on KZbin!

[@CompaDeArranke]

Ive discovered A LOT of important interviews on NPR, and I also follow up on them online 😅

[@thewakakeboarder]

Dear KZbin algorithm please promote this video more even though it's against your self interest.... it is in the best interest of humanity. And we should all care about humanity.

[@babybirdhome]

Social media was actually not very toxic at all back when you could thumbs down a comment and it would be hidden (but still viewable if you wanted to see it), and back when the only “algorithm” that determined what you saw was “what your friends that you explicitly follow posted most recently in chronological order with no favoring of anything ever”. These algorithms designed to maximize “shareholder value” are the literal death of us all.

[@babybirdhome]

I suppose, also, the zero-effort “share” on social media links and buttons that allow people to mindlessly spam their world with as many thousands of worthless content as they can click in a day. It would be a lot better if you could share whatever you want that way, but if you wanted it to be promoted or visible to your friends without them explicitly going to look for it, you were limited to just a few every 24 hours, or that you’d have to pass a content test to prove that you’d actually consumed what you’re sharing yourself first. The thing is, social media is not and can never be “the town square”, because it doesn’t operate like the town square. You’re not limited in how much garbage you can pump out. You’re not limited in how many people can consume that garbage in a given time. And you’re not limited in the amount of people it can reach at no additional cost or investment from you. This results in a system in which those who know the least spread the most and the furthest, while those who know the most are at an extreme, and amplified disadvantage. It’s no wonder the bad in the world is winning. This is basically how the entire social media architecture of today was designed to work. It is imminently exploitable, and can only ever result in abject societal failure. It’s not mathematically possible for it to do anything else.

[@MB-zn9vg]

It was better when you couldn’t monetise on it, but that doesn’t say much, it was trash even before. Forums were slightly better.

[@deegir3354]

HEY - 60 minutes: there is a BIG difference between passionate and reasoned concern for the wellbeing of our democracy and "anger". The writers of this piece clearly do not understand the MeidasTouch network at all. There is NO anger there. Just well reasoned facts about the current threat to our democracy and a lot of education and inspiration to people who hold similar concerns.

[@catherinekasmer9905]

I agree 100%! The false equivalency is a strategy of the right wing GOP to keep people from believing the truth. It dovetails with their spreading of lies and propaganda.

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

Morons and idiots got to stop throwing around words like "anger" and "hate/hatred/hate speech" as an excuse to silence/ignore/deny others freedom of speech. Those words alone tell us NOTHING about whether that anger or hatred is justified. e.g. Worker unions, the poor, prisoner rights advocates, Antinatalists, climate activists, Animal Rights Vegans, Atheists, Alien believers+UFO disclosure activists are JUSTIFIED in being anger, enraged and hating hypocritical pro-status quo conservaturds who have oppressed/silenced their causes - IMPORTANT causes - for decades.

[@ronjaj.addams-ramstedt1023]

Also: Donald J. Trump has clearly forfeited his oath to the USA, i.e. he IS a traitor (add "allegedly" to that if you live in a country with aggressive libel laws). There is nothing angry about that statement, it's just facts, easy to discern even from the European side of the Atlantic.

[@mesropmadzharyan6727]

Social media is the worst thing to happen to us .

[@colinsmith5879]

Social media is more harmful to society than all drugs combined imo

[@Jen7867]

@Elmir Bratić Roughly 100 million people have died so far at the hands of various communist systems (the most common cause was from man-made famines, which sadly, could have been avoided). So, I will say a big 'no thank you!' to communism. The best system (the one that has been responsible for lifting the largest amount of people in the history of the world out of poverty) is captialism. But, capitalism cannot be allowed to run amok - it must be kept from becoming predatory and exploitative. This can be done by maintaining a multifaceted and robust social safety net. 🙂

[@DurgaDas96]

It may very well be the worst thing. But I don’t believe communism will help free us, they will only use the algorithm technology to further enslave their populations.

[@andyd5038]

What bothers you is your choice

[@BubblewrapHighway]

@@W1ZY Learn about the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and Stalin's purges. Communism is not innocent.

[@Me97202]

I think social media might be the worst thing to ever happen to human society.

[@mistrmistr6417]

The biggest man made social cancer since religion.

[@anonimuse6553]

Hate and anger are drugs. Many people are easily pulled into hate like it's ice cream to a starved child. Emotional discipline or resistance to the allure of the Hate high should be part of the educational system.

[@AquaeAtrae]

Yeah. Many imagine the social media problem to be a technical one or some maliciously designed master plan. But all it's doing it maximizing user engagement for revenue. It's our own basic human nature to pay attention to outrage and outrageousness, to align into tribal thinking and mob mentality. The "system" is simply amplifying our most dramatic reactions. Sadly, cute kittens are about the only benign aspect that rises from all this. Our modern world needs more lolcats and less crazy.

[@vvggg12]

That’s a great point. It’s a quick and cheap thrill.

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

Nobody is entitled to the status quo. There is nothing sacred about the status quo. The status quo IS an extremist position. I am sick & tired of using labels like "extreme" or "extremist" or "hatred" or "hate speech" to dismiss or to refuse to address someone's ideas POVs, without investigation, or deny them power in government. Fairness & justice are what matter & what should be optimized. NEVER just law & order for law's sake. Law & order IS government IS communism. It is just as stupid and fascist for anarchists to be fanatically anticommunist as it is for communists to be fanatically anti-anarchist/pro-communism/pro law & order just for law & order's sake. Government/laws are just tools. When they fail, don't use them.

[@vvggg12]

@Aristocrat of the Soul Are you in the educational system? Do you have any real knowledge of it?

[@ev.c6]

I am a Software engineer, and looking from a technical perspective in what is happening in social medias, it is very easy to conclude our societies are in a very big problem. Automated tools using AI/ML are very far away from being able to tackle these conspiracy theories posts. Furthermore, it is obvious the manual work FB and Twitter do in moderation is NOT working. They developed algorithms to highlight sensationalist posts, because that is what gives audience. The problem is, politicians have adapted to use the same tactics to get into power. Fueled by these algorithms, they are a threat to our democracies. Big tech will need to be regulated. This cannot continue.

[@lynnjudd9036]

Yup, they talk a lot about what they are doing about this but to me it doesn't show that much. And social media seems to have become a reinforcer of the polarization going on.

[@JEMurl]

It's a real shame that 60 minutes has chosen to portray what is happening in America as "people's ideals clashing" instead of showing The People what is really going on: that the former president stole secret documents that put American Citizens and our Allies in danger. That the former president falsely claimed the election was rigged simply because he couldn't accept loosing. That thee former president let loose a mob of brainwashed maniacs upon thee Capitol building and that they almost killed this Nations servants.

[@SnoopyDoofie]

Social network platforms are ONLY in the business to make a lot of money and will break every rule possible to maximize profits.

[@Justin_Beaver564]

What about plurality vs instant run-off voting?

[@Jeff-fv9mp]

This is 60 minutes best piece in the last 20 years and after a month on KZbin it only has 300k views and 6k likes. Our society is heading down an irreversible path that will destroy itself. I never thought “idiocracy” would come to fruition this quickly.

[@alazarhabte4670]

Social media is an addiction. Therefore isn't easy to quit. I greed 100% with you.

[@brandonstahlecker]

I just recently deleted my Facebook, I don't miss it at all. Yes it's very addictive but after two weeks you kinda just forget about it. The one thing I do not like about deleting Facebook account is how long it actually takes to delete they wait a full 30 days before they fully delete your account.

[@AquaeAtrae]

Why isn't there a senate committee dedicated solely to social media and it's engagement-based algorithm?! Why doesn't this dominate news coverage? Our economy, public health, climate, democracy, and frankly even civilization itself are all threatened and debilitated by how social media amplifies our worst human natures. None of these would be such a serious crisis if not for our echo chambers and divided response to these fundamentally common causes.

[@TK-mf5in]

Hilarious. The republicans think social media is censoring conservatives - you can’t have a bipartisan committee in this climate.

[@talleyduhammer]

I wish i can like this 1000 times. I was born in 82 and i can honestly say social media is a society killer

[@lantrick]

Why? Because they are consumed by the Politics of outrage and no longer function as a deliberative body.

[@AquaeAtrae]

@@lantrick It's true governments (in America and elsewhere) are already so hyperpartisan that it barely functions thanks to our respective echo chambers. But that doesn't explain why no one is even trying. I would at least expect to see individual politicians focusing their campaigns and town halls around this issue. They should be competing to best present the problem and possible solutions to the public and on the debate floor. A skilled politician could raise the alarm and propose at least some regulations that both conservatives and liberals would find common cause around. Perhaps just to shed light on the problem and educate the public. But I can't think of even one who focuses on this more than an occasional criticism.

[@NeroLeMorte]

Politicians and rich executives: money!

[@mwood341]

To be honest, the angry online political rhetoric all started when older people got on social media sometime around 2010-2011. People 35 years and younger remember how social media was before the 50+ crowd got a hold of it 😐

[@SherryLea]

Fox news and especially a particular age range.

[@NoonyJW]

The Wild West days 😢

[@o0o-jd-o0o95]

If you have not yet watched it there's a video called "why colleges are becoming cults" it's one of the most eye opening videos I've seen in recent times it explains all this wokeness and explains where these racial tensions are coming from and it has everything to do with the complete collapse of American education especially in college. I think every American needs to watch it and understand it

[@LegowarriorYTAdventure1234]

@@o0o-jd-o0o95 I get your concerns but just to make it clear. "Wokeness" has been a thing for decades. Look at 60s counter-culture for evidence. And wokeness was meant to target Hollywood racism im quite sure. This delusions of colleges become "cult-like" started coming from conspiracies that also started on social media. Which brings us back around to the problem with these sites

[@nowyouseeme3402]

No...I disagree.

[@cellardoor199991]

Perfect guys to interview for this - Tristen and Jonathan. Watch their Joe Rogan interviews and their TED Talk. Absolutely brilliant.

[@JakeStepec]

thank you producers of 60 minutes for putting together this segment. I have worried for many years the path SM has taken and its effects. I was relieved when I learned about CHT, and I am again relieved a program such as your is extending their visibility. I think Tristan and CHT will be the first to admit, they do not have the end all answers, but we all realize doing nothing can no longer be an option.

[@pho3nix-]

Thank you 60 minutes for giving some attention to centrism and rationalism as a philosophy. We need it today more than ever.

[@nicholasorr6051]

Great piece. The harms to our social interactions and political discourse are not just happening in the US but worldwide. A must-read on exactly this topic - The Chaos Machine, by Max Fisher. I stumbled over it on Apple Books - it's a scathing attack on the very design of these platforms, the ethos those behind them do business by, and an eye opening account of the harms done over the past decade or two, both on the individual brain level and the societal level. The book is written by a New York Times investigative journalist, based on dozens if not hundreds of insider interviews, and thoroughly evidenced. Cannot recommend enough.

[@nikita-dh5je]

This is a terrible piece. This is the ultimate in both sides are equal or false equivalence. CNN is into this now. Marjorie Taylor Green, Fox News, and right media are mostly all huge disinformation sites, liars, and promote fascism. The Midas Touch speaks the literal truth when they call Trump a traitor, he tried a fake elector scheme to overturn an election, he incited an insurrection that almost had his VP hung, he stole classified documents , he is a traitor, this is not just rhetoric. Please stop with the both sides are equal nonsense.

[@nancyallin525]

To use the Meidas Touch as a comparison to MTG regarding the anger on both sides of the political spectrum is inane. 60 Minutes, you might want to do a deeper dive into what the Meidas Touch Network stands for. They are well read and researched, well spoken, and represent democracy and truth. They do NOT spread hatred, lies, conspiracy theories, and calls for violence.

[@catherinekasmer9905]

I completely agree. Meidas Touch is legitimate journalism.

[@maverik15j]

60 minutes should follow Frontline’s lead and start posting full interviews.

[@PotatosPotatoes]

I found this video on social media.

[@somnuswaltz5586]

Dumb joke.

[@mamatrain100]

Money is a powerful motivator in all this.

[@rallyoso2998]

Good video, best topic coverage and opinions I've seen on 60Ms in a while.

[@thedustyhead]

What part of the Midas Touch tweet , in full context , was not accurate ?! It's not a matter of opinion , that's what happened !! To attempt to frame it in the same kind of context as that of the ridiculous Tweet by MTG is not only wrong , it's unjust and bad reporting by 60 Minutes !!

[@styrpak1]

I absolutely agree. MTG lies, Meidas Touch does in-depth research...something I rarely find on most news channels, but appreciate about 60 Minutes, usually.

[@catherinekasmer9905]

That’s right! This both sides argument is itself a right wing lie! I won’t be watching 60 minutes any more!

[@marylm]

no debut. I'm so glad that this topic has been covered bt 60 minutes. thank you all guys!

[@carrieullrich5059]

The Midas Touch post, was factual. They're actually doing journalism, like 60 Minutes used to do decades ago.... Visit their KZbin channel for facts with receipts.

[@maryknight4109]

Carrie Ullrich - And please do not forget "Beau of the Fifth Column" and "Big Red Celt."

[@catherinekasmer9905]

This story by 60 minutes is a version of the right wing false equivalency strategy meant to delegitimize truth and confuse people! I wonder who owns the 60 minutes people?

[@mKSicily]

People need to hear this.

[@operator0017]

Yes! He is right-on!

[@seeyoucu]

This is a great segment. Love listening to Tristan.

[@DanScottOTH]

Ban TikTok

[@firstlast8258]

Good luck with that

[@NeroLeMorte]

Bring back vine instead.

[@king50ace2]

Great piece

[@Bax365]

Desperately needed piece too.

[@JusticeAlways]

👍

[@nikita-dh5je]

Terrible piece, another both sides are equal or false equivalence nonsense. Trump is a TRAITOR, Midas Touch is correct, don't confuse right from wrong.

[@Phrancis5]

As a worker for one of Silicon Valley's top social media analytics companies, I can say that "enragement = engagement" and engagement is their primary goal, even if it warps reality and destroys democracy.

[@MelissaMagyar]

60 minutes, independent media calling Trump a traitor is not being angry, its stating a fact.

[@kendrickjg]

The problem is the monetization. When people realized they can make millions while providing nothing back to society, that is when this entire train started to runaway from us. A generation of youth just chasing easy money will be our downfall. Now with the currency being devalued more and more each day, where does that leave us?

[@missrose0077]

What 60 minutes seems to miss is that Midas Touch reads filings from lawsuits and charging documents and as attorneys interpret the law in layman's terms. They don't just say so-and-so filed a lawsuit and then give an opinion. I've learned more about the law and the goings-on in courtrooms listening to Midas Touch than I ever did watching the news and that includes 60 Minutes.

[@lanablair9973]

Agreed! 💙

[@crismcdonough2804]

And Glenn kirschner too. I watch both.

[@livylu6287]

Exactly!

[@neveklund3267]

Very good explanation of their content.

[@heidiroy-boy]

Best 60 minutes I've seen in decades !!!

[@ObamAmerican48]

This was an excellent piece.

[@tomthomas5793]

If you are eligible to vote, and you STILL haven't voted, Nov. 8, 2022 may be your last chance to save democracy in the U.S.A. If you believe that a woman should have the right to make her own medical decisions, if you believe that rich people should pay their fair share of taxes, if you believe that protecting clean air and water is more important than polluters' profits, if you love kids more than you love guns, if you believe in equality for ALL people, then PLEASE vote blue… while you still have the right to vote.

[@sunburstrose7860]

Netflix's documentary "Social Dilemma" covered this--back in 2020!

[@mikaeladoyle8372]

This is the most important thing being by anyone right now.

[@frodotheewok]

Well done piece. As a tech enthusiast and developer, I do wonder if we are running experiments on human society without first giving time to understand and integrate with new tech developments. AI, robots and displacement of labor force will be next.

[@merrymary767]

This is the experiment. How much money can they make before we break. Mental Illness makes lots of money. Fear sells guns and security systems. When the government of UNITED States of America allowed Fox news to report lies we were doomed to this nightmare of incivility. But that all changed in the 80's under a Republican regime. I worked for survey Co for the last 11 years. I have heard it all.

[@beatniksfrommars]

"It will be my objective to phase out Social security. To pull it up by the roots and get rid of it." Sen. Mike Lee. R, Utah

[@sandrap4188]

I saw the winds of change over 10 years ago. The people I worked around who were heavily involved in social media were becoming politically angry & gullible. No matter what age group. FOX & Game of Thrones just made the anger mainstream & acceptable.

[@joexavier4070]

Cnn and other liberal media also no better

[@gemsbyjackie5479]

Sandra you cannot just blame Fox without putting blame on all the other big media orgs. MSNBC is disgusting lately. Not sure how long they have been like that but I'm willing to bet all big names have been stirring the pot for years. Fox, CNN MSNBC NBC are the absolute worst.

[@MrAndrewCreech]

So you hate liberals. Do you know what the definition is? Let me help: relating to or denoting a political and social philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties, democracy, and free enterprise. Don’t like individual rights? Shut up and put your mask on. Don’t like civil liberties? Shut up Christian, your fairy tale beliefs disqualify you. Don’t like democracy? Bow to your master. Don’t like Free enterprise? Shut up and eat your government gruel. We are a liberal country. Embrace it.

[@Yogaslackers]

The foundation of the problem…lets fix this!

[@Molkatoftime]

This is the first time, and probably the most shocked I have ever been to see the comments actually activated!!! This was a good choice. Conversation is healthy. This is a very important topic. Thank you

[@WestCoastCultured]

I don’t need soulless tech bros telling me how to feel

[@rommix0]

Yet you're here

[@RankinMsP]

I think we need to acknowledge our part in all this. If people choose to be angry, abusive etc we can't just blame SM. We clearly have that in us and SM is simply giving us the drug we wanted. We can't blame an app no one forces us to click on. Yes, we know it's skewered but we also know we have to control ourselves. We can't demand 'freedoms and free speech' then complain when we abuse it. We are allowing it and should be the ones to act.

[@joaoteixeiraduarte]

You’re missing the crucial point: social media platforms are not dumb pipes. They’re deliberately designed to emotionally engage us, because emotional charge will make us spend more time on the platforms. They’re very interested in maximising those posts that will enrage us. The apps “no one forces us to click on” are core communications platforms for the younger generations, they’re their “TV” like TV was for us in the 80s and 90s. And they employ psychologists (like myself) in designing software to deliberately be addictive.

[@nowyouseeme3402]

Good point.

[@MrBrad898540]

An interesting commentary on the "gladiator effect" of social media polarizing everybody. What it doesn't address, is the underlying issues which Americans continue to ignore which have made them angry in the first place. Policing social media isn't going to do anything. As long as Americans try to avoid real problems and make a specialty out of lying to each other, things will only get worse. That is the real issue.

[@voncarlowitz3506]

I totally agree with you. Same song in Europe!

[@thatoneguy62276]

Those lies spread 100 times faster and are reinforced and broadcasted to a wider audience through unregulated social media use. Social media compels people to double down and reinforce their lifes in order to win and save face from being wrong.

[@JakubNeustadt]

That is true, but the fact that social media are built on this business model and are using it still stands, there is no reason to not do something about both these things in parallel

[@brudiallen]

Very good point

[@firstlast8258]

We have to first agree on what is a problem or not

[@jumpedscarab9444]

How can they do "both sides" on this??? One side wants to overthrow our democratic system, the other side wants healthcare for all 🤦‍♂️

[@catherinekasmer9905]

They must be owned by a big corporation or a right wing billionaire!

[@WheresMyInhaler]

You can’t be serious right ? Look at Twitter , the hate and vitriol there is very apparent and clearly represented by one side . Just because it’s coming from YOUR side , doesn’t mean it isn’t hateful or antagonizing speech .

[@jumpedscarab9444]

@@WheresMyInhaler I don't have a Twitter account 😅

[@jake8286]

The distinction between the far right and the far left needs to be made. They are not the same. Both don't seek violence. Both don't seek to restrict rights. Both don't desire to overthrow a government.

[@firstlast8258]

Muh rights

[@jake8286]

@@firstlast8258 who is muh?

[@catherinekasmer9905]

Both sides-ism is a right wing strategy to delegitimize truth and confuse people.

[@AsianOrigin]

its crazy because I cant even watch a tv show without going on social media :(.

[@gillespieQMA]

Excellent work 60 Minutes! Thank you for shedding a sane light on this important topic.

[@radar0412]

Remember in 2004 60 minutes II put out a phony story suggesting that GW Bush was a Draft Dodger. Thank goodness CBS got caught Red handed for their Political Polarization Agenda.

[@breebeal3344]

Excellent interview. YES, we CAN take the toxicity out of social media!

[@jimlongino8420]

Spoken like a freedom of speech hating Democrat.

[@catherinekasmer9905]

Have you ever watched Meidas Touch? They give facts and legal analysis with zero toxicity. This whole story of equivalence between two sides is false. It is a right wing strategy to delegitimize truth and confuse people.

[@SoneBlink]

I don't follow mainstream media, don't have a tv. But i love this channel, i don't always agree with everything here or how is presented, but they sure have very good stories.

[@Alexander-rq9he]

I disconnected from those platforms but YT is also fueling a lot of toxicity.

[@af31ns]

7:32 Fascinating about Tik Tok!

[@jackmedlock5888]

I heard about this on Joe Rogan I think. Has he had this guy on?

[@CooperMorrow]

This is true but news orgs, like CBS, are just as much to blame. Do they cover Joe Schmo respectable, cordial Congressperson or do they repeatedly cover Donald and Marjorie?

[@qrobinso]

We are Tribal. The End! Social Media magnifies this.

[@erichammond9308]

"more outlandish language"🤔 when you call someone who attempted to overthrow the Constitution of the United States and who stole classified documents "a traitor and guilty of espionage", that's called honesty, and not outlandish at all!

[@mwood341]

This was an excellent piece. I agree, this might have to be settled in the courts. Why not just ban politics outright on social media platforms? Candidates successfully campaigned for decades before social media, and they will be fine doing so now.

[@radar0412]

We're putting the cart before the Horse. We should Reform our Political system before we take away our 1st amendment rights that allows us to Express ourselves freely on Social Media. Our Political system is geared towards Political polarization. Reform our Political system and the problem goes away.

[@shanelittle1025]

Why didn’t you write about this before Elon took over?

[@catherinekasmer9905]

Because this “Both sides” story is false and this show is owned by big money interests. Meidas Touch presents facts and truth.

[@CRAZYHORSE19682003]

Social media needs to be banned. Just because you can do something does not mean you should. NOTHING good has come from Social Media.

[@skylorwilliams5036]

I’m the moderate majority and I’m past exhausted. I’ve been exhausted since 2010.

[@simulationl279]

i can attest to controversy in university where I took a course in politics and everyone would warn me not to discuss politics because it is like walking on eggshells.

[@kellyodowd3949]

The best thing that happened to me getting hacked and losing my Facebook account before the presidential election was how much better I felt being unable to witness the drama that escalated. I felt like I went through a withdrawal at first, but it was very helpful breaking the cycle of not having any control of tuning into all the hopeless, paralyzing feelings I focused on. Especially all the worst conspiracy theories and fears of the being victimized by my own irrational thinking patterns. I still had this fear of everyone I loved dieing from covid. 2 weeks later, I was ready to start planning moving from my community, and seeing how many people I live around had also been tuned into the same things and not being able to talk about anything else but politics or covid. Social media divides and conquers and brainwashes definitely on purpose. It helps the politicians have much easier jobs and ability to predict the results by paying for typical advertising and probably having typical algorithms with proven tactics developed. Everyone has typecast themselves by psychological patterns. Recognising this and being aware of how easily it is to be manipulated is the only thing I can see to be less susceptible of being manipulated. But also not being too confident that it there isn't something I don't know.

[@javianjohnson8746]

I absolutely can believe this. Social media has just exacerbated the access to political content/expression, which directly results in anger, bullying, threats, conspiracies, etc. We don't like to admit it, but social media is an extremely powerful tool that we live with, and there are a bunch of people who misuse it. And 12:15 great point. Social media platforms will HAVE to be held accountable by the courts!

[@elevatelife-nk7896]

I dumped all social media (except KZbin) 8 years ago and don’t miss it at all! I do wish serious communications did not use these platforms for updates-about 2 years ago I had to re-sign up for Twitter just to get wild fire and road condition notifications in my neighborhood as that was the only way to get that info and many neighborhoods use things like Nextdoor or FB to communicate updates. I wish we had better alternatives.

[@brianjohnston6132]

I agree with one thing Facebook's spokesperson said. It's those over 65 getting radicalized the most. Social media has done to Boomers what Boomers said video games would do to us.

[@scott9427]

Most accurate comment about social media I've ever read.

[@AquaeAtrae]

So true. So sad.

[@roliepoliecolie2200]

Agree totally.

[@DurgaDas96]

Im a boomer and don’t use social media (except KZbin).

[@cygnals524]

I am sure that is true & I love that statement but I have seen more people in my age group which is the mid 50's that has been radicalized and most of our parents are the actual boomers. It is probably because I see more people on Facebook in my own age bracket but I am still shocked at how many people I grew up with and even hung out with who have turned into rabid political know it alls. Most of them haven't read a book in decades but believe every dam Meme that they see. They no longer even care for facts as long as they have a list of friends who agree with them and see Memes & pages that say what they want to hear even if it is false info. I was raised in a time period where we were encouraged to be open minded, listen to different viewpoints and I/we never made friends based on viewpoints, especially political viewpoints. Many people from my generation & other ones as well set their friends list up so they mostly only have people that have the same exact political leanings as they do. They have created their own echo chamber so they never have to even see or hear a view that doesn't agree with their own views. They only watch the 24/7 news outlets that agree with their side & only visit and like social media sites that only agree with their views. They then claim it is everyone else who is blinded by propaganda and many love to use terms like "they drank the kool-aid, They are a bunch of sheep, etc... All it takes is a Meme with a false narrative or straight up lie made by anyone & then large groups of people actually believe what the false Meme says and they can't be convinced otherwise even when shown facts that prove it to be 100% wrong. It is so frustrating!! I dislike both parties equally & refuse to pick my friends by their political viewpoints. I no longer discuss politics or social issues on Facebook. I was so burnt out by the whole thing after the 2020 election I didn't even log onto Facebook for over a year. I only comment or reply to posts here on KZbin but only do so occasionally and avoid anything that remotely resembles an argument.

[@ericli3360]

So we go back from a system where Big Tech decides what we want/need to know based on our actual behavior to the old system where Big Media decides what we want/need to know based on their imagination?

[@eksbocks9438]

4:28 Exactly!

[@Downgrader]

It’s better to be polarized around accurate information than united around corporate media propaganda.

[@jamestaylor3805]

His disengage concept is sounds way too much like "don't feed the trolls" which is the exact mentality that allowed the polarization to get to this point. By not engaging you leave the recruitment mechanism open.

[@citylumberjack9169]

THIS

[@dannyshaw4433]

It's mainstream media.

[@krllydwntoro]

Thank you 60 minutes ⏱️⏱️

[@whatsgoodamerica]

No kind of media can be blamed for people’s decision to be stupid

[@RankinMsP]

💯

[@JohnDoe-ef3wo]

Very true

[@JML6988]

Stopping social media in its tracks isn't the answer. Funny thing about technology is its tendency to outpace human morality & common sense. We're always playing catch-up. But catch-up we will.

[@AbstractInhuman]

8:19 Bruh the way that I immediately guessed "influencer" and was actually right 💀

[@Dk-qf8dd]

Add in Government censorship and media “lies” and you get a serious mess that is used to make money at the expense of the consumer.

[@DumbAssSpeakingWithMansVoice]

Divide and distract, all by design.

[@msboncat1959]

I still have Facebook. it has gotten better since Jan 6 about screening Political ads. It is about connecting to family and friends for me. I keep instagram because My nieces and nephews are on there. That site is mostly about pictures. I did deactivate my twitter account. I never used it much anyway. I do think one should monitor how much time is spent on social media. There is life off the internet that should be lived. Especially for kids. There is nothing that can compare to face time (without technology} with family and friends. Humans need social connection that is not sitting behind a keyboard. Time on and off the net should be monitored to balance out one's life. Not just kids I mean everyone.

[@Vmglf]

Same. I feel like Facebook is actually really useful and pleasant. It's all family and friends now, and the rhetoric has vanished. At least for me.

[@UnCannyValley67]

@@Vmglf just because YOU don’t see pt on YOUR feed doesn’t mean its not being seen by millions of other people.

[@Vmglf]

@@UnCannyValley67 key words "at least for me" but thanks anyway

[@sunsetwalker2923]

I wish this was the case for me, extreme political rhetoric from both ends keeps showing on my Facebook feed despite me actively unfollowing pages that share it.

[@suzy8239]

Best Video I've seen this year! Ban social Media

[@dayhaysuper3639]

Wow

[@jessmason2112]

They need regulations badly. Keep free speech. Lie or slander someone you going to pay a price. Fines and fees should do the trick.

[@firstlast8258]

Muh freeze peach 🍑

[@oldernu1250]

Gave up on 60 minutes after the Audi sudden acceleration report. No public apology. No one fired. No anger, just worthy of my trust.

[@b.robins7305]

Definitely affects people's mindset.

[@blessed7fold]

60 minutes needs to look at its self and it's peers. The media has done more to stoke anger then any social media platform.

[@stevej.7926]

Numbers tell a very different story. 60 minutes is a dwarf compared to social media when it comes to viral sharing. Social media feeds on a “virus” model. That’s what’s so dangerous.

[@ernestintownandjackintheco1024]

“I never could have been president without Twitter…” -TFG

[@othellorucker8107]

This scary but yet incredible how the algorithm transcends from just the platform to us humans making the algorithm a living breathing concept which most of all requires our participation. The scary part is our participation is not forced but we’re willingly participating in doing its work. Wow

[@brettsolomon7431]

Vv

[@dfcannone]

Boys are talking about all these solutions and I'm not once heard that mention the word "BOYCOTT" we all need to start boycotting all this online social bullcrap

[@grimtooth5358]

Our govt should divide up private social medias. They have too much power on our youth.

[@Iquey]

Pfft Not just the youth, but the Boomers and elderly, and anyone vulnerable to loneliness and an entitled mindset.

[@firstlast8258]

Our government should shut down permanently

[@dailydoseofmedicinee]

👍

[@jjjooe]

One very misleading thing in this video about TikTok is that ByteDance only designed this "healthy" version for kids in China voluntarily. Last year, the Chinese government issued an updated law on teenage protection that covers online content. As a consequence, social media platforms had to establish protective rules. For example, no teenager can play games for more than two hours or so and only during the weekends or holidays (the exact numbers I forget). Thus, it is not that ByteDance intentionally "poisons" kids in other countries; like all profit-seeking firms, they only stop maximizing their profits while facing harsh regulations.

[@NerdyGirlLiveLove]

So sad watching this the past 8 years. Both sides playing everyone. People thinking us vs them mentality.

[@308_Negra_Arroyo_Lane]

And what about Tucker Carlson and Fox News? That's 10x worse, and it's not social media.

[@styrpak1]

100%