Superbloom: Tech's Frenzy and the Unchecked Power of Social Media

This review examines Nicholas Carr's new book, *Superbloom*, using the California poppy incident as a springboard to discuss the negative impacts of technology, particularly social media. From the early days of the telegraph and telephone to radio and the internet, Carr reviews the evolution of American media regulation, highlighting the lack of effective oversight leading to the unchecked power of social media and resulting societal issues like information overload, privacy breaches, and alienation. The author argues that mild measures like 'friction design' are insufficient to address the problems, calling for more proactive intervention and reflection on technology.