Facebook manipulated the emotions of almost 700,000 unwary users by changing their news feeds to be more positive or negative in a covert psychological experiment. The startling discovery was made during Joe Rogan’s podcast interview with Harvard historian Rebecca Lemov, revealing how tech companies have unheard-of control over Americans’ emotional states without their consent. Big Tech’s unchecked power to subtly manipulate public opinion and mental health has come under scrutiny in light of this troubling instance of corporate overreach.
Big Tech’s Secret Mind Control Experiment
In 2012, Facebook deliberately modified the content appearing in hundreds of thousands of users’ feeds without their knowledge or consent to study how emotional manipulation affects user behavior. The experiment, conducted in partnership with Cornell University and the University of California-San Francisco, was designed to understand emotional contagion on social networks by showing some users predominantly harmful content while others received mostly positive posts.
Yo dummies couldn't leave Facebook alone I told you so 12 years ago. Ask any programmer or engineer how much behavior you can manipulate with some algorithms-Mark Zuckerberg knew it well and you guys are just choosing to dumb yourself down sucking on his pieces of code👎 https://t.co/zz3uEKJH5Y
— MedicalQuack (@MedicalQuack) May 15, 2025
Joe Rogan appeared visibly disturbed when learning about the experiment during his podcast, calling it “sinister” and comparing it to brainwashing techniques. The social media giant’s defense rested on a technicality buried in their terms of service, which they claimed permitted them to use unsuspecting Americans as test subjects in psychological experiments without specific informed consent.
Joe Rogan left shocked by 'sinister' Mark Zuckerberg brainwashing experiment that warped minds of 700k people https://t.co/mTgWOqfNDZ
— Joe Rogan Podcast News (@joeroganhq) May 21, 2025
Serious Consequences and Lack of Accountability
Some users allegedly suffered severe emotional distress as a result of the experiment, with reports suggesting it may have contributed to suicide attempts among those unknowingly exposed to predominantly harmful content. Despite these serious allegations, Facebook faced no significant legal consequences when the experiment was publicly revealed in 2014, highlighting the remarkable lack of oversight for powerful tech companies.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center filed a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission following public outrage, but no meaningful action was taken against the company. Even the UK Information Commissioner’s Office investigated potential violations of data protection laws, yet ultimately imposed no sanctions on Facebook, demonstrating how regulatory bodies have repeatedly failed to hold Big Tech accountable.
Broader Pattern of Digital Manipulation
During the same podcast episode, Rogan connected Facebook’s experiment to research by Robert Epstein, which showed how internet search results can influence voter behavior and political opinions. The discussion revealed how major tech platforms have developed sophisticated methods to shape public opinion through algorithmic manipulation, often with political implications that undermine American democracy and free thought.
Meta, Facebook’s parent company, recently announced plans to end its third-party fact-checking program in the United States amid growing concerns about censorship and free speech limitations. This decision comes as conservative voices have increasingly criticized Big Tech platforms for labeling factual information as “misinformation” when it contradicts preferred political narratives, showing the ongoing battle for information freedom in America.
The revelation about Facebook’s experiment represents a disturbing example of how powerful corporations can exploit Americans’ trust while violating traditional ethical standards regarding informed consent. With major tech platforms continuing to exercise unprecedented influence over information flow and public opinion, patriots must remain vigilant against digital manipulation that threatens individual liberty and undermines constitutional protections for free thought and expression.
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