F<\/i>or democracy to thrive in the internet era, we need technology that respects rules and privacy.<\/p>\n
One of my favorite childhood memories is joining my mom each time she voted. I can still remember approaching our neighborhood polling place with a drooping flag outside the entrance, the smell of coffee and donuts to fuel the poll workers for their long shifts, and the sound of the curtain as it closed to protect the privacy of the voter. It was a sacred ritual that felt both exciting and important.<\/p>\n
Voting is still a sacred, important ritual to me. Yet, everything leading-up to elections (if there is even a \u201clead-up\u201d period anymore) has changed dramatically. These days, preparing to fill out a ballot feels like an endurance test that includes watching hours of debates and candidate bloopers, making your way through mountains of digital news coverage on every moment of the campaign, and beating back misinformation attacks. I love getting the \u201cI Voted\u201d sticker when I\u2019m done, but I really feel like I deserve a medal.<\/p>\n
With all of this effort, you\u2019d hope Americans will show up for the midterm elections better informed than ever before — right?<\/p>\n
Anyone who spends time on YouTube, Twitter, or elsewhere online knows that finding the truth isn\u2019t always easy. The journalist Chris Hayes recently provided<\/a> an apt example:<\/p>\n It is, perhaps not surprisingly, conspiratorial quackery.<\/p>\n Once you view that, the algorithm also then suggests this on the sidebar:<\/p>\n “What You’re Not Supposed to Know About America’s Founding” (863,00 views)https:\/\/t.co\/anOLNuPJGF<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) September 6, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n