Digital advertising algorithms curate content precisely for users. Major tech firms claim to restrict disinformation yet | dG1fY2k4XzFrZGdFU2c
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Short filmTranscript
00:00We live our lives in the digital universe surrounded by digital advertising.
00:11Google, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, these are basically advertising
00:16companies.
00:17The vast majority of their revenue comes from advertising.
00:23This is an industry that's estimated to be about $400 billion.
00:26It's a really big segment of the modern economy.
00:29What makes them powerful digital advertising tools is the targeting ability.
00:34That's what's allowed this digital media industry to really grow.
00:39We know exactly where this person is.
00:42We know their real name.
00:43We know their credit card number.
00:45We know where they have traveled.
00:46Imagine that, Mr. Advertiser, of what you can do to reach these people.
00:53Sometimes those ads are obvious.
00:55Sometimes they are sneaky and deceptive and they trick us.
00:59Sometimes they steal money from us to the point of leading us in financial ruin.
01:03I couldn't breathe.
01:05I couldn't eat.
01:06I couldn't sleep.
01:07I've lost everything.
01:09It destroys your life.
01:14The ugly truth is social media companies discovered prioritizing hate, misinformation, conflict
01:21and anger is highly profitable.
01:28I think that the disinformation crisis is one of the greatest threats to humanity right
01:33now.
01:34Democracies all over the world are under threat because of disinformation.
01:39Misinformation is sticky.
01:40It's addictive.
01:41It's chewy content.
01:42And for the companies that monetize that content, they see it as an opportunity.
01:48Spread lies.
01:49Spread hate.
01:50And you can make money.
01:58Senator, we've run out.