Some thoughts about social media as we are all self-quarantined and watching the news. (Thread):
1/ First, as I said in my tele-townhall yesterday, in the age of social media, we are all mini-news aggregators. What we post, what we share gets magnified in ways we don't often appreciate. This puts the onus on all of us to be better editors.
2/ If you see something on social media that fits your pre-existing biases and you feel that little endorphin rush encouraging you to retweet or share, think twice! If you can't independently confirm it is true, don't share it.
3/ This is ESPECIALLY true when the President and FoxNews have more interest in propaganda than facts. We are at a moment where bad information will get people killed. Be responsible, even when those leaders and media outlets are not. Even more when they are not.
4/ Meanwhile though, we do have some really exceptional executive branch leaders in our states. @AndrewCuomo is doing a great job, as is my Governor @JBPritzker. They are sharing information that is factual and necessary. Pay attention to them.
5/ In the White House, Tony Fauci is exceptional, but be aware that anyone in Trump's orbit is under tremendous pressure not to contradict Dear Leader. So far he's largely dodged that pressure, but his ability to speak necessary truths is constrained.
6/ And I get it - this may seem awkward. We have free speech. We want to be able to say whatever we want. But understand: what we do TODAY has a direct impact on how many people will be alive in June. Viral contagion does not discriminate in it's geometric spread.
7/ We are overdue for a conversation about the accountability of social media firms to police content on their sites. We can't yell fire in a crowded theater but we do still allow people to say things on social media that - in this moment - are much more deadly.
8/ This is not the time for that conversation, for obvious reasons. But all of us need to understand the consequences of this largely-unpoliced moment and act responsibly.
9/ And keep in mind: the geometric math of COVID-19 spread is a lot like the geometric math of social media. There's a reason we call posts that blow up "viral".
10/ In an earlier era, Churchill famously said that a lie can get halfway around the world before the truth gets its pants on. A lie on social media moves way faster.
11/ If people think that they should ignore Governors sharing facts at the expense of Presidents spouting lies because of the political party of those individuals, they are potentially killing people. Not intentionally of course, but that is the math of this moment.
12/ Yesterday, we had ~24,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases. On March 19, we had 12,000. March 17: 5,600. March 18: 2,800. Doubling every other day. That is what viral transmission looks like. If we don't immediately lock ourselves down, we will have 1 million cases by April 1.
13/ But compare that to a zingy, MAGA, own-the-libs tweet from a public figure that can get millions of retweets in less than 24 hours. That is the danger at this moment. Science matters. Facts matter. PLEASE prioritize them over politics. And stay safe. /fin
