Cultural evolution moves exponentially faster than genetic evolution because ideas spread through social networks in hours rather than generations. Digital platforms amplify this through algorithmic selection, creating both unprecedented opportunities for knowledge sharing and serious risks from viral misinformation.
Social contagion spreads behaviors and beliefs through networks following mathematical laws, from viral memes to mass panic. Understanding these mechanisms lets us recognize manipulation, harness contagion for good, and navigate information ecosystems designed to exploit our ancient social instincts.
Social contagion spreads through networks using the same mathematical principles as disease outbreaks, with network structure, centrality, and reinforcement thresholds determining which behaviors go viral and which fizzle out.
Culture now evolves thousands of times faster than genetics, as ideas spread through social networks and digital platforms in days rather than millennia. This acceleration transforms everything from business innovation to personal identity, making cultural adaptability the key survival skill.
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