One to One

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Interview series. Broadcasters talk to the people whose stories interest them most

Series of interviews in which broadcasters follow their personal passions by talking to the people whose stories interest them most

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One to One: Tech for Good: Marcus Smith speaks to Tristan Harris

Tech for Good: Marcus Smith speaks to Tristan Harris

BBC Radio 4 - One to One, Tech for Good: Marcus Smith speaks to Tristan Harris

Tristan Harris talks to Marcus Smith about the damage social media is doing to society.

Tristan Harris talks to Marcus Smith about the damage social media is doing to society and why the economic model that underpins these platforms needs to change.

Have you ever scrolled through social media and been surprised by an advert for something you were looking at the other day?  This is no accident.  Every view, every like, every click is stored, assessed and calculated, and allows the companies who run these platforms to target you with increasingly accurate advertising.  But if you're not paying for the platform you're using, is there anything wrong with that?  Well yes, according to Tristan Harris, one of the contributors to the successful Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma.  Social media may have started as a means of staying in touch with friends but it has led to multi-million pound businesses which use an economic model that competes for our attention, and Tristan fears this is doing society irrevocable harm.

Marcus Smith is a content creator from Bristol and a digital native.  He is fascinated by technology's impact on us and has studied the effects of online gambling on young people.  For 'One to One' Marcus is looking at the 'tech for good' movement and speaks to two leading figures in the tech industry - one who argues that it is currently a force for bad, and one who tries to work with tech to harness the good.

For this programme Marcus asks Tristan where he thinks we've gone wrong, and what social media companies, regulators and society should be doing about it.

Producer: Toby Field

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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Tech for Good: Marcus Smith speaks to Tristan Harris

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