The 5 worst ideas of the 21st century – and how they went wrong

The podcast episode critically examines ideas from the 21st century that initially seemed promising but have proven detrimental. Social media is debated for its addictive nature and influence on elections, with the suggestion of removing profit incentives. Bitcoin is scrutinized for its environmental impact due to energy-intensive mining, its limited utility beyond illegal activities, and comparisons to speculative investments like Pokemon cards. Carbon offsets are questioned for enabling continued emissions and the unreliability of tree-planting initiatives. Effective altruism faces criticism for its over-rationalization of charitable giving, potentially diverting resources to speculative causes like AI safety instead of immediate needs. Alternative fuels, particularly biofuels, are condemned for their land use, inefficiency, and contribution to rising food prices.