The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story Of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds And Our World

From a New York Times investigative reporter, this “authoritative and devastating account of the impacts of social media” (New York Times Book Review) tracks the high-stakes inside story of how Big Tech’s breakneck race to drive engagement—and profits—at all costs fractured the world. Building on years of international reporting, Max Fisher tells the gripping inside story of how Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social networks, in their pursuit of profits, preys on psychological frailties to create algorithms that drive users to extreme opinions and actions. The companies' focus on engagement has led to a destabilized world, with hate speech and violence spreading globally, culminating in events like the Capitol Insurrection. Fisher also highlights the stories of whistleblowers and insiders who exposed these issues. The book is a definitive account of Silicon Valley's rise and legacy, urging us to address the damage before it's too late.