Elon Musk and Donald Trump Poised to Profit from a Misinformation-Driven Reality…
In what may be the pinnacle of the fact-free political landscape we’ve seen over the past decade, tonight will feature billionaire Elon Musk interviewing fellow billionaire Donald Trump on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, now X. This platform is notorious for creating echo chambers for users on both ends of the political spectrum. This drift into a fantasy world is being driven by intertwined technological and social factors that have distorted our cultural fabric ever since smartphones and social media emerged in the early 21st century.
The first factor is not new. The super-rich tend to surround themselves with people who echo their views, creating a bubble of unreality. This trend has intensified as the number of billionaires in America has surged to over 813, many of whom pour money into politics to further shield themselves from inconvenient truths, differing opinions, or taxes. Musk and Trump are prime examples of these billionaires, both owning social media empires worth billions. These platforms generate revenue by offering users a customized reality, filled with the echo chamber of their chosen tribe, regardless of political leanings.
As these social media platforms have grown, the cultural institutions that once united Americans and grounded them in shared reality have weakened. Public schools are seen by many as a cruel joke, mainstream churches that don’t cater to extremist views are losing relevance, and universities have turned into politically homogeneous institutions admired by those who share their ideologies and dismissed by those who don’t. The centrist media, whose role was once to provide a balanced view of reality, have either lost influence or have themselves become purveyors of partisan ideology, much like the social media that undermined their business model.
For the majority of Americans who remain connected to reality through their work, families, and the remnants of social institutions that still persist amidst this cultural chaos, the spectacle that Trump and Musk will present tonight is likely to be distasteful. This is why most Americans will choose not to watch, with only a shrinking minority consuming any traditional news coverage of the event. Instead, they may hear snippets about the billionaires’ meeting through talk radio, Facebook friends, or workplace conversations.
Meanwhile, those who are disconnected from mainstream politics have their own tools that keep them isolated from political tribes and even from each other. Thanks to smart devices and streaming media, they can immerse themselves in the pop culture of any era from the 1950s onward, indulging in increasingly narrow niches that rarely intersect with the current world. Even Star Trek fans have a plethora of choices regarding which era of the Federation they wish to immerse themselves in.
Musk and Trump aim to profit from tonight’s event by keeping the public divided and at odds, while they rake in millions in donations and subscriptions from their followers, who seek further insulation from reality—whether it comes from a demagogic politician or a digital dopamine dealer. Their most prominent critics will voice disapproval, yet still cater to their own tribal audiences, who are driven by the same technological and social dynamics that brought Trump to prominence. Perhaps tonight’s spectacle will be a wake-up call for us all.
