Ben Smith's article discusses the formation of profound political opinions through online chat threads, particularly Signal chats, in which a new alliance between Silicon Valley and the right emerged. It particularly emphasizes Marc Andreessen's role in these discussions, suggesting that they have no parallel in the contemporary intellectual landscape. However, the article also critiques the portrayal of these chats as innovative and emphasizes that they are part of a longer history of political discourse, with roots dating back to previous far-right interactions that were missed by some sorts of commentary in the tech elite.
Ben Smith’s piece highlights the crucial role of online chat threads, particularly Signal chats, in fostering a pro-Trump realignment and forming alliances between Silicon Valley and the new right.
There exists no counterpart to the intellectual counterculture of the tech right that has emerged over the last five years, exemplified by figures like Marc Andreessen.
While these billionaires use terms like 'samizdat' and 'salons' to describe their interactions, the influence of group chats on politics is hardly new.
Ben suggests that Silicon Valley primarily created Signal chats, overlooking the earlier use of such chats by white nationalists and far-right groups.
Collection
[
|
...
]