I can’t wait for the day people begin seeing the world and humanity as they are, instead of seeing them through the information filters @Facebook & @Twitter have created.
It never was, and won’t be perfect BUT...1/
....at least it’ll be #human, not defined by an algorithm pursuing profit and addiction.

Just like religions, ideologies, and traditions imposed filters on how humanity perceived reality for generations, today social media platforms are the insidious meta-filters. 2/
You, reading this post, may intellectually get the notion that Twitter or Facebook don’t define the real world or people - but on an emotional and behavioural level, that intellectual understanding will more often than not be meaningless. 3/
That is especially true now where, with social distancing, more than ever, the way we engage in our societies is increasingly digital. 4/
Although some powerful research has been done on this front, much more is needed. This is truly hard to study as now even none social media sources of news, such as newspapers and Television news channels, have shifted to be more conducive to social media culture and engagement5/
And for the social media companies themselves, this is seen as a win. It is domination, and they believe their creations are a gift to humanity. At one point, they could’ve in fact become a true gift — but that broke down once profit margins and growth were prioritised 6/
Based on what I have seen in my line of work, from India to Brazil, from Wisconsin to Egypt, from Brussels to Nigeria, this filter is tearing apart those fragile things we call empathy and solidarity across communities, and creating more trenches across the planet. 7/
I have hope that we will be able to fix it — but listening to the stories of #FacebookSurvivors this week, so much harm has already be done. 8/

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More from @fadiquran

28 Oct
As members of @SenateCommerce theatrically complain about how they are being "silenced", here are 4 deeply heartbreaking stories from #FacebookSurvivors that give a #warning about the type of pain millions of Americans could face if @Facebook doesn't act. cc @guyro @andymstone:
"What happens on @Facebook does not stay on Facebook". Hate, racism, voter suppression. Just hear what happened when Joyce ran for mayor in a small town in #Alabama:
#FacebookSurvivor
"There was no scream or noise I could make that could let out the feeling inside my chest" -- Hannah's is a story of heartbreak and incredible courage. She's now suing @Facebook because its misinformation & hate crises are costing lives. #FacebookSurvivors #DetoxFacebook
Read 8 tweets
12 Sep
Wow - “According to excerpts from 'Rage', at a time when @realDonaldTrump was wondering if #Israel was the obstacle to peace with the #Palestinians, Netanyahu showed him a fake video to steer him away from pro-Palestinian sentiments.” Fake news at the highest levels (thread).
I have met so many high level officials and diplomats across the US and @EUinIsrael who consistently mention content or issues that are clearly based on disinformation fed to them by Israeli officials that stoke their prejudice against the Palestinian ppl and struggle 2/X
Often times, I’ve asked for evidence of these claims - with staffers for these high level officials failing to find any. But what’s clearer now more than ever is that the @IsraelMFA and Israel’s strategic Affairs ministry are factories of disinformation. So what’s the lesson? 3/X
Read 8 tweets
16 Aug
I’ve connected with dozens of folks from the UAE after #MBZ’s announcement with #Israel. The majority are pained and do not support the step #MBZ has taken. They are suffocated & fear speaking out against it because #MBZ is a dictator & can act with brutality. Thread
State owned media in the #UAE is doing its best propaganda in decades trying to convince people #MBZ made this decision to benefit #Palestine - but it’s becoming clear to most #Emiratis that’s just not the case. They are hearing other views & seeing this action for what it is...
It’s important to remember that #MBZ’s father, Sheikh Zayed, was unequivocal in his support for Palestinian rights and his antagonism to Israel’s crimes. Most #Emiratis have seen videos of him speaking very passionately on this issue, like this one below, which is being shared..
Read 10 tweets
28 Jan
Want to understand why Trump’s Middle East plan is racist & enshrines apartheid in the holy land? Try replacing the words “Israel” with “White people” & the word “Palestine/Palestinian” with Black people & then re-read the plan. Here are some examples: #DealOfTheCentury (thread)
“White People will maintain at least one early-warning station in places where black people live, as designated on the Conceptual Map, which will be run by white security forces. Uninterrupted white security forces access to & from any early-warning station will be ensured.”
“To the extent reasonably possible, solely as determined by caucasians, white security forces will rely on blimps, drones and similar aerial equipment for security purposes in black areas in order to reduce the White people’s presence within the black communities.”
Read 6 tweets

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