This episode of Outrage Science Bites concludes the week's focus on technology and outrage by looking ahead to the future of internet access. The internet's founding dream was to democratize information, but it has also amplified outrage through algorithms, echo chambers, and the incentivization of anger on social media platforms. The future of internet access presents both challenges and opportunities, with the rise of decentralized networks offering more freedom but also potentially less accountability. AI could be used to moderate content and curb hate speech, but it could also be used to manipulate and polarize. Expanding internet access globally raises questions of digital literacy and the potential for new users to be drawn into the same outrage cycle. The decisions made today about regulation, AI use, and user education will shape whether the internet amplifies the best or worst in us.
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