"Disinformation. Spam and Scams. Trolls." For those of us paying attention, one thing is clear: We got problems! Fortunately, Renée DiResta is helping with exactly that by studying online manipulation, and what we can do about it. And yeah, we get quite a primer on the concept of "bespoke realities."

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Renée DiResta is the Technical Research Manager at Stanford Internet Observatory. In this conversation we delve into the challenges of misinformation, online manipulation, and the impact of algorithmic curation on public discourse. Renée discusses her career journey, her work on election integrity, and the concept of "bespoke realities." The episode explores how media ecosystems shape our perception and the importance of fostering meaningful dialogue across differing viewpoints.

02:56 Renée DiResta's Background and Career Journey

06:35 The Birth of Vaccinate California

07:22 Facing Harassment and Public Backlash

16:01 Understanding Bespoke Realities

17:44 The Influencer-Algorithm-Crowd Trinity

27:17 The Role of Free Expression in Social Media

29:50 The Complexity of Free Expression and Moderation

31:10 Platform Policies and Government Regulation

32:23 Engaging with Conspiracy Theorists

33:48 Understanding Algorithmic Curation

34:38 Reflecting on January 6th and Political Polarization

39:51 Election Integrity Partnership: An Inside Look

46:22 Recognizing and Combating Propaganda

50:37 Concerns About a Second Trump Term

53:20 Fostering Better Conversations Across Differences

57:08 Engaging on Social Media: Strategies and Reflections

You can also find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

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https://www.reneediresta.com/

https://www.threads.net/@renee.diresta