Murdoch's 'Angertainment Ecosystem' Gave U.S. President Trump: Ex-Aussie PM

September 22, 2023: Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Wednesday that Rupert Murdoch’s “angertainment ecosystem” gave former U.S. President Donald Trump the power to divide the country.

Turnbull spoke at a forum in Sydney about the dangers of disinformation and the role that social media and media companies play in spreading it.

“Murdoch’s ‘angertainment ecosystem’ is a media system designed to enrage and divide people,” Turnbull said. “It is a system that is based on lies, distortions, and fear-mongering.”

Turnbull said that Murdoch’s media empire, which includes Fox News, Sky News, and The Sun, played a major role in Trump’s election in 2016.

“Murdoch’s media empire gave Trump a platform to spread his lies and disinformation,” Turnbull said. “It gave him a platform to divide the country and to attack his opponents.”

Turnbull said that Murdoch’s media empire also threatens democracy in Australia.

“Murdoch’s media empire is a threat to democracy in Australia because it is a threat to truth,” Turnbull said. “It is a threat to democracy because it is a threat to informed consent.”

Turnbull’s comments come at a time when there is growing concern about the role that social media and media companies play in spreading disinformation.

In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile cases of social media and media companies spreading disinformation about a variety of topics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, elections, and climate change.

The spread of disinformation has had a number of negative consequences, including the erosion of trust in institutions, the spread of hatred and violence, and the undermining of democracy.

Implications of Turnbull’s Remarks

Turnbull’s remarks about Murdoch’s “angertainment ecosystem” and the spread of disinformation have a number of implications for social media companies, media companies, and governments.

Social Media Companies

Social media companies need to do more to stop the spread of disinformation on their platforms. This could include developing new algorithms to identify and remove disinformation, fact-checking content, and promoting credible sources of information.

Media Companies

Media companies need to be more careful about the information that they publish. This could include fact-checking all content before it is published, and being transparent about the sources of information.

Governments

Governments need to take steps to address the problem of disinformation. This could include regulating social media companies and media companies and funding research into the spread of disinformation.

Conclusion

Turnbull’s remarks about Murdoch’s “angertainment ecosystem” and the spread of disinformation are a timely reminder of the importance of truth and informed consent in democracy.

Social media companies, media companies, and governments all need to do more to stop the spread of disinformation. By addressing the problem of disinformation, we can protect our democracies and ensure that everyone has access to accurate information.

What Individuals Can Do to Stop the Spread of Disinformation

Individuals can play a role in stopping the spread of disinformation by:

Being critical of the information that they see online and in the media
Fact-checking information before sharing it
Only sharing information from credible sources
Reporting disinformation to social media platforms and media companies
Supporting organizations that are working to combat disinformation
Individuals can help create a more informed and engaged citizenry by taking these steps.