The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World (2022)

In The Chaos Machine, Max Fisher exposes how social media giants like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have fueled polarization and extremism by designing algorithms that exploit human psychology. Through years of investigative reporting, he reveals how these platforms, driven by profit and engagement metrics, have enabled the spread of misinformation, hate speech, and real-world violence. Fisher tracks the global consequences of unchecked digital influence, from distant conflicts to the Capitol Insurrection, highlighting Big Tech’s refusal to take responsibility. Alongside tales of whistleblowers and activists fighting to curb the damage, The Chaos Machine serves as both an urgent warning and a call for reform to mitigate the harmful effects of social media.