Last night, Kikar Shabbat hosted the legendary tech entrepreneur and Israel advocate Hillel Fuld for a compelling discussion on the US elections. Since October 7, 2023, Fuld has emerged as one of Israel's most powerful voices on the global stage, transforming from a tech industry leader into a fierce defender of Israel and Jewish causes.
During the roundtable discussion, Fuld addressed the unprecedented wave of misinformation plaguing social media platforms. "Platforms like TikTok have created an environment where truth is optional," he explained. "Users can make any claim they want, regardless of its connection to reality."
Fuld's advocacy approach has evolved from his tech industry roots, inspired in part by his late brother Ari Fuld z"t"l, who was tragically murdered in a terror attack six years ago. "My brother was known for his fearless, direct approach to Israel advocacy," Fuld reflected. "Today, I've taken off my tech entrepreneur gloves and stepped fully into the arena of advocacy."
Drawing on his tech background, Fuld highlighted a critical challenge in modern media consumption: the echo chamber effect. "Most social media users only see one narrative. My mission is to break through that barrier, showing Israel's perspective to audiences who would otherwise never encounter it."
Despite seeing positive results from his efforts, Fuld acknowledged a disturbing trend: "Even in the tech world, where you'd expect rational thinking to prevail, we're encountering educated people who readily embrace antisemitic narratives."
He emphasized the importance of fact-checking and source verification, particularly regarding casualty claims from Gaza. "When people quote the Gaza health ministry's figures, I ask them to consider the source. Most don't realize they're quoting Hamas propaganda directly."
Fuld offered a note of optimism, pointing out that social media outrage doesn't always reflect reality. "While online hatred is rampant, actual American support for Israel remains robust," he noted. However, he explained that anti-Israel propaganda succeeds because of its simplicity: "It's completely false, but it's simple to digest and share."
Looking toward the US elections, Fuld observed an unprecedented shift in political dynamics. "Social media now plays a pivotal role in electoral outcomes, something we've never seen at this scale before," he concluded.
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