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Wouldn't this system be gamed when it hit sufficiently large enough?

The more I think about it the more I realise that news is mostly a tool for "propaganda". It really doesn't serve much purpose in ones life beyond that

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Isn't staying up to date on current events one major purpose? I'd say it's even the reason people will call out media outlets for being biased and yet still consume their content. The alternative is to simply not know what's happening in your city and around the world

In a participatory democracy, information is necessary for informed consent to political and economic decisions that can echo broadly across time and space. As social animals, even the tiny minority of humans with power can be influenced by the (perceived or real) opinions of others.

Ongoing investment in expensive propaganda is proof that public opinion has economic value, otherwise why compete to influence it?

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