“The greatest dictators are not political leaders, but 'tech bros' like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk.” This is the harsh accusation launched by Maria Ressa, Filipino-American journalist who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for her defense of press freedom.
According to Ressa, social media bosses have the power to manipulate people on a global scale by inciting polarization, fear and hate. A digital dictatorship that transcends cultures, languages and geographical borders. And which risks profoundly changing the way we feel, see and act in the world. How acceptable is his statement, and what can we do to defend ourselves?
Maria Ressa's accusation: social media are weapons of mass manipulation
Maria Ressa's words are a harsh indictment against the power of the technology giants. According to the journalist, platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and now also TikTok have become real weapons of mass manipulation in the hands of a few "masters of opinions". Through opaque algorithms and engagement strategies that exploit our most primitive emotions, “digital dictators” are able to influence the way we think, feel and act. Regardless of our cultural or geographic differences.
Ressa cites concrete examples of how social media has incited polarization and hatred in different parts of the world. From Philippines, where online propaganda supported Duterte's authoritarian regime, to the United States, where conversations on topics such as racism have been “ridden by Russian propaganda*”, with the aim of “creating chaos”. A strategy which, according to Maria Ressa, aims to undermine our capacity for discernment and our trust in democratic institutions.
* Is it necessary to say that propaganda operations (for Ukraine, Palestine and others, as always) come from many sides? I anticipate some easy (and useless) criticism of what Ressa said. They are his statements, they should be taken as such.
From studies on the impact of social media to direct testimony
Maria Ressa's accusations, mind you, are not simple opinions, but are based on a growing mass of scientific and testimonial evidence. Numerous studies have shown how social media use influences our mood, opinions and even our voting behavior. An experiment conducted by Facebook itself in 2014 revealed how by manipulating users' news feed it was possible to influence their emotional state, inducing positive or negative feelings depending on the content shown.
Other researchers have highlighted how social media algorithms tend to favor polarizing and sensationalist content, which generates more engagement but also more anxiety, conflict and division. A vicious circle which, according to many, has contributed to the rise of polarizing authoritarianism in various parts of the world.
Added to this evidence is the direct testimony of Ressa, who experienced first-hand the repressive power of social media. As a journalist critical of the Duterte regime, Ressa has been repeatedly targeted by online hate and disinformation campaigns, orchestrated by pro-government trolls and bots. A digital persecution that led her to face numerous trials and threats of arrest, in what she herself defines as an attempt to "silence" the freedom of the press.
Maria Ressa's "recipe": rules, education and resistance
Faced with this disturbing reality, what are the possible solutions? Maria Ressa suggests some, starting with the abolition of the legal immunity of digital platforms on content posted by users. A protection that, according to many critics, allows social media to thrive without taking on the responsibilities of a traditional publisher.
Another proposal: to keep children away from social media until they are old enough to manage the risks. Maria Ressa cites the “additive” nature of these platforms, which are designed to capture our attention and keep us glued to the screen for as long as possible. A particularly dangerous effect for younger people, whose brains are still developing and more vulnerable to external influences.
In addition to "top-down" solutions, however, Ressa also calls for real resistance from below. It urges the public to "enter the real world" and organize with family and friends, creating alternative information and support networks to digital ones. Because, she warns, “information operations are targeting you. And when you become a broadcast arm, you become part of the information testing team.”
The impact of Artificial Intelligence. The new risk frontier
As if that weren't enough, Maria Ressa launches a new alarm: the advent of generative Artificial Intelligence risks making the situation even worse. Citing a recent study, the journalist reveals that a "shocking" amount of the web already exists generated by low quality AI, even before generative AI really comes into play. A phenomenon that he warns could literally "push us out" of the Internet, making it unusable as a reliable source of information.
It's a warning that adds a new level of urgency and complexity to the challenge posed by "digital dictators." If social media are already capable of manipulating our emotions and perceptions today, what will happen when they are enhanced by increasingly sophisticated and uncontrollable AI algorithms? A question that forces us to rethink not only our relationship with technology, but also the very future of democracy and freedom of expression.
A call to action: resist the digital dictatorship
Ultimately, Maria Ressa's words are a powerful cry of alarm and a call to action. Faced with the rise of "digital dictators", we cannot remain passive spectators, but must become active and aware citizens. This means educating ourselves about the risks of social media and cultivating real relationships and communities outside of digital platforms.
Maria Ressa herself reminds us of this in a formidable way:
Without facts, you can't have the truth: without the truth, you can't have trust. And without trust, we don't have democracy. And without democracy, we have no purpose.
It will not be easy to resist the pervasive and seductive power of social media, which now permeates every aspect of our lives. But it is a battle we cannot afford to lose if we want to preserve our freedom, our democracy and our very humanity in the digital age.
