In brief
Barack Obama warns that social media can fuel anger and fear, yet he believes a drift toward extremism is not inevitable. Speaking at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, the former president called for a balance between free speech and regulation, citing post‑war lessons about propaganda. He urged people to keep faith in the moral universe, reminding audiences that hope is an active choice. Obama also highlighted the impact of misinformation and the looming challenge of distinguishing truth in an age of AI. The former president concluded that society can still choose resilience and better democratic practices.
Barack Obama told a packed crowd at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro that while online platforms increasingly focus on content that feeds anger and fear, a drift toward extremism is not inevitable.
At 12,150 on the stage, the 65‑year‑old former U.S. president reflected on his time in the White House, reminding listeners that the same digital tools that can mobilise people for democracy can also be weaponised by hate groups. "Our reptilian side is attracted to anger and fear," Obama said, noting that much of today’s information is shaped by those emotions.
He warned that a lack of rules could let misinformation spread unchecked, but recalled how after World War Two governments reacted to propaganda by establishing controls: “If you see big lies that incite violence, you must hold people accountable.”
Obama urged a “critical balance” between free speech and regulation, emphasizing that new institutions and mechanisms are needed to allow rigorous debate while fact checking misinformation. He argued that a diet of false or sensational content can be as harmful as a harmful diet for the body.
Speaking on hope, the former president still believed in a Martin Luther King quote that the moral universe will eventually bend toward justice. He described hope as an almost theological choice “we must make” to keep moving forward even when progress seems slow.
In closing, Obama noted that humanity often forgets lessons from the past, which can lead to a cycle of tolerance loss. Still, he argued that the world can improve, reminding the audience that change is possible if people act on hope and engage in courageous conversations.
