The Hype Machine

By Sinan Aral

Categories: Computers & Technology, Politics & Social Sciences

In The Hype Machine (2020), MIT professor Sinan Aral examines how social media shapes what people buy, believe and do, drawing on his research into networks and the spread of information. Aral explains how platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram use algorithms and network effects to capture attention, and how false news spreads faster than true stories. He assesses their effects on elections, markets and public health, and proposes ways to keep their benefits while reducing harm.

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• Scott Galloway: “Great book, congrats, Sinan”