Algorithms, Outrage, and the Echo Chamber Effect — Can Tech Help Us Reconnect?

Are Algorithms Fueling Outrage—Or Can They Help Fix It? Plus live Q&A event and new 'This Week in Outrage' Episode

We’ve got a fascinating new episode out today that explores the mechanics of how social media shapes our beliefs—and our divisions.

Our guest is Paul Resnick, a pioneer in recommender systems and professor at the University of Michigan, whose work explores how digital platforms influence what we see and how we engage with each other. You may know him from his work on GroupLens or the book Building Successful Online Communities.

In our conversation, we tackle some big questions:

• Are echo chambers and filter bubbles really what’s driving polarization?

• How do algorithms actually decide what we see—and is it helping or hurting democracy?

• Can tools like Community Notes on X (formerly Twitter) help cut through the noise and reduce online outrage?

Professor Resnick brings a nuanced perspective that blends computer science, psychology, and political science. This episode is part of my effort to bring more tech-focused content into the show—especially the kind that touches on our shared civic life.

As always, thank you for listening and sharing. If you find this episode thought-provoking, I’d love it if you shared it with a friend or two who’s also trying to make sense of our noisy digital world.

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🧨 Live Panel: Resisting Authoritarianism—Without Losing Ourselves

April 22 | National Week of Conversation

It’s no longer hypothetical: the second Trump administration is here, and it’s already taking bold steps that many constitutional scholars—including Republican-appointed judges and former DOJ officials—are calling deeply concerning.

We’re seeing:

• Expansions of executive power

• Defiance of Supreme Court rulings

• Obstruction of Congress

• Systematic dismantling of civil service protections

• Targeting of political opponents, attorneys, and career professionals

• A push to politicize the federal workforce and the justice system

• Actions that many experts say would’ve been impeachable under any prior president

These aren’t just partisan talking points. They’re red flags for anyone who cares about democracy, rule of law, or a functioning constitutional system.

So here’s the question we’re asking:
How do we respond—without losing sight of the values we’re trying to defend?

I’m hosting a special Outrage Overload live panel Q&A on April 22 as part of National Week of Conversation. We’re bringing together some of the sharpest, most thoughtful voices from across the spectrum—including past podcast guests—to wrestle with the real tension between resistance and bridge-building.

We’ll be asking:

• Can we fight back without dehumanizing?

• What does strategic outrage look like in a moment like this?

• Can persuasion and protest coexist?

• How do we stay grounded when it feels like the rules no longer apply?

This isn’t a “both sides” conversation. It’s a how-do-we-stay-effective-and-human-in-a-polarizing-crisis conversation.

I hope you’ll join us.

📅 Tuesday, April 22
🕕 6pm PT / 9pm ET
📍 Streaming live on YouTube → Set a Reminder »

Add to Calendar

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New This Week in Outrage Episode!

It’s everything the Outrage Overload podcast is not. It’s not edited. It’s not scripted. It’s lightly researched. It’s David and Lisa talking about this week in outrage, what was in the news, in the memes, and maybe finding some backstory with a humorous (at least to us) twist.