How to Build an Atomic Bomb
summary
Claim: major social platforms are literal bombs — built tools (Twitter, Facebook) that monetize abuse and amplify harm while enriching owners. Evidence: Twitter is a $2 billion business because of Trump, Cambridge Analytica swiped almost 100 million users, Volkswagen engineer James Liang gets 40 months for emissions‑cheating software. Built outcome: systems successfully grow users and profit but fail at moderation, privacy, and public safety; design teams lack diversity and ethical safeguards, so the product works commercially but collapses morally.
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chapters (30)
- 0:00Intro
- 5:28Twitters Response
- 10:19Business Case
- 13:02Twitter Facebook
- 13:45Twitter
- 16:05Upton Sinclair
- 17:43Silicon Valley
- 20:50Ethics
- 21:46The Landscape
- 24:34Tools
- 28:30Designers Responsibility
- 29:37The Service Economy
- 32:09We are not building websites
- 33:43A designer values impact over form
- 34:34An object that is designed to harm
- 34:58The Veil of Ignorance
- 36:32Designers
- 37:24Asking Why
- 38:11Criticism
- 39:04Audience Design
- 39:56Problem Solving
- 41:16Edge Cases
- 42:37Professional Community
- 43:48Diversity
- 45:54The Business Case
- 47:08Empathy
- 47:35Excuses
- 48:04Ignorance
- 50:41Origin story
- 51:18Capitalism
