This is an excerpt from the full episode "The Rise and Fall of Digital Media: With Ben Smith."
Ben Smith joins The Michael Steele Podcast to discuss his book, "TRAFFIC: Genius, Rivalry, and Delusion in the Billion-Dollar Race to Go Viral." The pair discuss the early days of digital media, the rise and fall of news sites like Buzzfeed News and how controversy drives traffic and virality.
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The Bulwark
Quick Take: How Controversy Drives Online Virality
Quick Take: How Controversy Drives Online Virality
The Bulwark
Audio
The Bulwark is home to Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, Bill Kristol, JVL, Sam Stein, and more. We are the largest pro-democracy bundle on Substack for news and analysis on politics and culture—supported by a community built on good-faith.
The Bulwark is home to Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, Bill Kristol, JVL, Sam Stein, and more. We are the largest pro-democracy bundle on Substack for news and analysis on politics and culture—supported by a community built on good-faith. 
