Future Forward Future Forward

Social Media. It’s a big part of the lives of young people today. Big, as in 5 hours a day or more It isn’t a hobby. It our friends, our social lives, our school work, our news, it’s our media. Which is to say, it isn’t going away. Not at all. But the companies that run the platforms are now under fire. Congress, the courts, and parents all want to know how they got to be so powerful, so addictive, and so profitable so quickly.

Frances Haugen was working at Facebook when she had a chance to see what no one outside the company could. That Facebook had data, damming data, that its platforms Facebook and Instagram were doing real harm. Francis decided to blow the whistle, and did so first in the Wall Street Journal, and then in front of Congress. I’m Aidan Kohn Murphy, the founder of GenZforChange and I’m Olivia Seltzer, the founder of CrammNews And we’ll be joined by 15 NexGen media makers and consumers, in an open round table to explore Social Media and it’s impact on our community, in a round table conversation with Frances Haugen, who’s known as The Facebook Whistleblower.

Today re-education and makeover of CNN to win back the trust of the audience continues - unfortunately. New proposals to save local and regional journalism through philanthropy and tax credits are back in the news. Spoiler alert, it’s a pipe dream. And, the government has had it up to here with china-owned TikTok, everybody else can’t get an enough of it. I’m Bob Garfield, along with Steven Rosenbaum - and this is Future Forward.

Today… the New York Times chats with Bing’s ChatGPT - and things go wrong… FAST. Then can Washington gets its shit together and protect kids. And, is that a good idea? And, over at the Supreme Court - the law that pretty much everyone agrees created the modern Internet - SECTION 230 - is about to be examined by the most powerful court in the land. And it’s better than even money they’ll shoot it down. Said Vox: the court could "effectively impose the death penalty on many websites that make up the backbone of the internet.” I’m Bob Garfield, along with my far more handsome and charming co-host Steven Rosenbaum. Steve… what cha got?

From various locations on the eastern seaboard this is Future Forward. I'm Bob Garfield, grumpy sidekick to Steve Rosenbaum. Today: If you thought that Amazon was about ordering YA books and dog food, think again. The retail colossus is swallowing Hollywood in chunks. Also some people call these days the Golden Age of documentary. But, as they say, all that glitters is not gold. But maybe not. And finally, changes afoot at YouTube, that may get very big, very fast. And now, forward we march.

Today. Let’s just cut through the crap at talk about Artificial Intelligence. All of it. AI and Art, and AI in Higher Ed, AI in Journalism, and AI and Truth. Bob Garfield, my podcasting partner and crime here to share the real real of where it’s going. This is Future Forward, Steven Rosenbaum and let’s Launch.

Today - Reed Hastings Steps down at Netflix. His streaming legacy and the history of Kim’s Video. Then, the debt ceiling. What is it, and do we care? And CNET and Robots. Uh oh. I’m Steven Rosenbaum with my Podcasting Partner in Crime Bob Garfield, and this is Future Forward. Let’s launch.