Why the News and Social Media Feel So Crazy Now
The Main Idea in a Nutshell
- The internet and social media completely broke the old rules of news, causing people to lose trust in traditional sources and creating a new world where drama, authenticity, and going directly to the audience are what works.
The Key Takeaways
- Old News Is Dying: The internet, with sites like Craigslist, destroyed the way old newspapers made money from ads. This forced tons of news outlets to compete for your clicks, often by being more dramatic and less careful with facts.
- Trust in "Experts" Is Crashing: Social media acts like an X-ray machine on big institutions like the government, news companies, and universities. It exposes their mistakes and biases for everyone to see, so people don't trust them like they used to.
- A New Playbook for Fame: People like Donald Trump and podcasters like Joe Rogan figured out a new way to get popular. They use a style from reality TV and pro wrestling—full of drama and personality—to connect directly with people on social media, skipping the old news channels entirely.
The Media "Barbell": It's a myth that everyone's attention span is just getting shorter. Instead, we're attracted to two extremes: super-short videos (like on TikTok) and super-long, deep conversations (like a 3-hour podcast). The middle ground, like a 30-minute TV news show, is getting left behind.
Fun Facts & Key Numbers:
- Fact: In the past, classified ads made up about 30% of a local newspaper's money. The internet wiped that out.
- Fact: In the 1950s, when news was most centralized, there were only about 60 countries in the world.
Important Quotes, Explained
Quote: "> If you think professional wrestling is fake, just wait until you read the read the newspaper."
- What it Means: This is a sarcastic way of saying that even though pro wrestling is staged entertainment, it can sometimes feel more honest than the news. The speaker is suggesting that newspapers, which are supposed to be 100% true, often push their own secret agendas and stories.
- Why it Matters: This quote perfectly captures the feeling that many people have today: a deep distrust of traditional news. It shows why people are turning to new sources that feel more "real," even if they're just for entertainment.
Quote: "> ...the cliche is, you know, kids only want to watch two-minute videos... Well, so it turns out I think it's actually no, it's actually the barbell. Kids want to watch either two-minute videos or three-hour Rogan episodes."
- What it Means: The speaker is busting the myth that young people only have short attention spans. He's saying we're actually interested in two opposite things: very quick, bite-sized content and very long, in-depth discussions. It's the boring middle that we're tuning out.
- Why it Matters: This explains why TikTok and long podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience can both be massively popular at the same time. It shows that the way we consume media has fundamentally changed.
The Main Arguments (The 'Why')
- First, the author argues that the internet broke the business of news. When websites like Craigslist offered free classified ads, newspapers lost a huge source of money. This made news companies desperate for eyeballs, leading them to chase clicks with more sensational and less reliable stories.
- Next, they provide evidence that social media has shattered public trust. Because everyone can post and share information, the mistakes and biases of so-called "experts" and powerful institutions are constantly exposed. This makes people cynical and less likely to believe what they're told by traditional authorities.
- Finally, they point out that a new type of public figure has mastered this new world. People like Trump learned from reality TV and pro wrestling that drama gets attention. They use social media to build a direct, personal connection with their audience, making the old media gatekeepers irrelevant.
Questions to Make You Think
- Q: Why did the speakers say the media's attitude toward tech companies changed so dramatically around 2017?
A: According to the text, the big turning point was Donald Trump's election in 2016. The media started to believe that social media platforms like Facebook were responsible for getting him elected, partly because of "fake news." This made many journalists very angry and hostile toward tech companies, which they saw as the cause of the problem.
Q: The podcast says we're in a "post-press world." What does that mean for politicians?
A: It means that politicians no longer have to rely on newspapers or TV news to get their message out. They can now "go direct" to the people through social media and long-form podcasts. The new skill they need is to be interesting and authentic for hours at a time, not just to give a polished 30-second soundbite.
Q: The text mentions that trust in institutions started falling in the 1970s, way before the internet. Why?
- A: The text gives two main reasons. First were major events like the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal, which made people question the government and other authorities. Second, new forms of media like talk radio and cheaper paperback books began to emerge, giving people alternative viewpoints for the first time and breaking the control of the three major TV networks.
Why This Matters & What's Next
- Why You Should Care: This podcast explains the world you're growing up in—a world where your social media feed is a battleground of ideas and it's hard to know who to trust. Understanding how the "media game" works helps you become a smarter consumer of information, so you can spot when you're being manipulated and form your own opinions.
- Learn More: The podcast talks about the Watergate scandal and how the famous movie All the President's Men tells one version of the story. Watch the movie (it's a classic thriller!) and then think about the podcast's point that the "hero" source was actually a top FBI official. It’s a great way to see how a single story can be viewed from completely different angles.