Fukuyama argues social media helped shape modern populism’s rise and form

What was said

"I actually think that technology uh exemplified by social media is really much more important than most of the other explanations that you can't explain the timing for the rise of populism and in particularly you can't explain the particular nature that it has taken without social media. For example, a lot of the what it means to be a conservative these days, a populist conservative is to believe in conspiracy theories."

Francis Fukuyama argues that technology, especially social media, better explains when populism surged and what form it has taken than many standard explanations. He says online incentives reward outrageous claims and help spread conspiracy theories, fuelling political radicalisation.