How the Internet Went From Counterculture to Technofeudalism | Douglas Rushkoff

In this episode of Hidden Forces, host Demetri Kofinas interviews media theorist Douglas Rushkoff, exploring Rushkoff's career from his communal upbringing and theater background to his role as a media critic during the rise of the internet. The conversation traces the internet's evolution from a collaborative medium to a commercialized platform, discussing the consequences of this shift, including the blurring of public and private spaces, hyperreality, and the drift toward technofeudalism. Rushkoff and Kofinas delve into ways to rebuild community sovereignty, reclaim attention, and reassert citizen power over technological forces, also touching on the differences between the early internet and today's digital landscape, the impact of capitalism, and the increasingly disembodied nature of modern interactions. They consider potential solutions to these issues, emphasizing the importance of public policy for the common good.