Renée DiResta, INVISIBLE RULERS: The People Who Turn Lies into Reality

"Disinformation. Spam and Scams. Trolls." For those of us paying attention, one thing is clear: We got problems! Fortunately, Renée DiResta is helping with exactly that by studying online manipulation, and what we can do about it. And yeah, we get quite a primer on the concept of "bespoke realities."

 

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Renée DiResta is the Technical Research Manager at Stanford Internet Observatory. In this conversation we delve into the challenges of misinformation, online manipulation, and the impact of algorithmic curation on public discourse. Renée discusses her career journey, her work on election integrity, and the concept of "bespoke realities." The episode explores how media ecosystems shape our perception and the importance of fostering meaningful dialogue across differing viewpoints.

 

02:56 Renée DiResta's Background and Career Journey 

06:35 The Birth of Vaccinate California 

07:22 Facing Harassment and Public Backlash 

16:01 Understanding Bespoke Realities 

17:44 The Influencer-Algorithm-Crowd Trinity 

27:17 The Role of Free Expression in Social Media 

29:50 The Complexity of Free Expression and Moderation 

31:10 Platform Policies and Government Regulation 

32:23 Engaging with Conspiracy Theorists 

33:48 Understanding Algorithmic Curation 

34:38 Reflecting on January 6th and Political Polarization 

39:51 Election Integrity Partnership: An Inside Look 

46:22 Recognizing and Combating Propaganda 

50:37 Concerns About a Second Trump Term

53:20 Fostering Better Conversations Across Differences 

57:08 Engaging on Social Media: Strategies and Reflections

 

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