Listening to criticism of social media on Morning Joe now, I hear media's projection: Media, like FB, depends on driving engagement (sensationalism, conflict). Media, too, as @JoeNBC accuses FB, set fires & then claim credit for putting them out. We need self-examination, too.
There's plenty to criticize at FB. But when that criticism comes from un-self-aware media guilty of similar sins, the criticism is devalued.
Joe says FB refuses regulation. In fact, FB is advertising, begging for regulation: a classic case of regulatory capture: They can afford compliance competitors can't; regulation also shifts blame to regulators. I worry its impact on freedoms for all.
about.fb.com/regulations/?u…
about.fb.com/regulations/?u…
The problem with blaming FB and Twitter for, say, the racism against the British football players is that it distracts from the *real* problem. Kill all the racists' messages & the racism is still there. That is what we must address.
So much criticism of social media & the net grants users no agency, assuming they are easily corrupted and otherwise just fine. I again recommend this paper on the risk of moral panic, distracting from underlying ills. sts-news.medium.com/youre-doing-it…
Joe's solution so far today, thank goodness, is not to attack Section 230 but instead to demand to break them up. What does that accomplish? How does that address the core problems? It's an emotional, retributive response. It's not that easy.
To their credit, @JoeNBC & @morningmika are also criticizing Fox News, OAN, et slimy al. But we need to ask the same question there: What do we do about them?
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