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Niall Ferguson's NetWorld

Niall Ferguson's NetWorld

In this groundbreaking new series hosted by Niall Ferguson and based on his bestselling book The Square and the Tower, Ferguson visits network theorists, social scientists and data analysts to explore the history of social networks. From the Reformation and 17th century witch-hunting, through the American Revolution and to the nightmare visions of Orwell’s 1984, Ferguson explores the intersection of social media, technology and the spread of cultural movements. Reviewing classic experiments and cutting-edge research, Ferguson demonstrates how human behavior, disruptive technology and profit can energize ideas and communication, ultimately changing the world.

Created By
StatusReturning Series
Original NameNiall Ferguson's NetWorld
First Air DateMarch 17, 2020
Last Air DateMarch 17, 2020
Seasons1
Episodes3
Episode Runtime 0min
LanguageEnglish
Original LanguageEnglish
Production CountriesUnited States of America, United Kingdom, France, Italy
Production Companies
NetworksPBS
S01E01

Disruption

Host Niall Ferguson compares the great network revolution of our time with one that happened 500 years ago – the Protestant Reformation. With the help of experts in network theory and precedents from history, Ferguson argues that the printing press had similar consequences for 16th-and 17th-century Europe as the personal computer and the Internet have for the world since the 20th century, leading to polarization and the dissemination of fake news.

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