This article from the Seattle Times shares Bill Gates concern about digital isolationism. Do we read only what we already believe? PSA encourages digital tools as a means to help people get together.
Add Bill Gates to the roster of citizens concerned about the negative effects of a digital echo chamber.
During his latest “Ask Me Anything” session on Reddit, Gates was asked about the role of the internet and social media in creating the politically divided atmosphere in the U.S., fueling the spread of false information and the creation of digital communities built around groupthink.
In response, the Microsoft co-founder conceded he may have been too optimistic about the unifying power of the web.
The problems of community online are serious and challenging, and perhaps a lot harder than we might have originally imagined in the first flush of all that the new technology can do.
Now that we’ve gotten a very good look at some of the downsides, and there are some real Downers…we have the opportunity to work hard on ameliorating the bad stuff, and emphasizing the good stuff.
It was ever so in human endeavors, a slog to try to “make a difference”. It’s still early, and we are going to get better at this cloud living. Color me optimistic. But also because we have to get better for our democracy to survive and thrive.