Why it feels like everything is going haywire
"The U.S. Constitution was an exercise in intelligent design. The Founding Fathers knew that most previous democracies had been unstable and short-lived. But they were excellent psychologists, and they strove to create institutions and procedures that would work with human nature to resist the forces that had torn apart so many other attempts at self-governance.
"For example, in 'Federalist No. 10,' James Madison wrote about his fear of the power of 'faction, by which he meant strong partisanship or group interest that 'inflamed [men] with mutual animosity' and made them forget about the common good. He thought that the vastness of the United States might offer some protection from the ravages of factionalism, because it would be hard for anyone to spread outrage over such a large distance. Madison presumed that factious or divisive leaders 'may kindle a flame within their particular States, but will be unable to spread a general conflagration through the other States.' The Constitution included mechanisms to slow things down, let passions cool, and encourage reflection and deliberation."
The design proved to be exceptionally responsive and durable for two centuries. But then came social media. How does a system designing itself to support the common good, one that identifies a free press as a foundational pillar, react to a technology that makes it really easy to find and spread mutual animosity?
Article: The Dark Psychology of Social Networks