The Tech Policy Press Podcast Exploring Belief and Belonging in a Fractured Online Age
13 snips
Dec 4, 2025 Calum Lister Matheson, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh and author of Post-Weird, delves into the psychology behind community beliefs in a fractured digital age. He discusses how fantasy shapes our understanding of reality amidst declining consensus and the evolving role of technology in heightening division. Matheson highlights case studies like Sandy Hook conspiracism and the dynamics within pro-anorexia groups, emphasizing the need for nuanced rhetoric and the dangers of fringe beliefs gaining political traction.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Symbols Lose Their Automatic Authority
- Symbolic efficiency means symbols stand for authority and social order.
- That capacity erodes, so symbols like the white coat no longer automatically command trust.
Tech Accelerates, Doesn’t Fully Cause Change
- Social media accelerated existing dynamics but didn't solely create them.
- Technology reshapes community formation without fully determining outcomes.
Sandy Hook As First Social Media Conspiracy
- Sandy Hook became the first major social-media-era conspiracy community.
- Alex Jones amplified but did not originate many of the claims.
