The fundamental flaw with social media extremist policy is that violent movements are only banned when they receive attention & public backlash.
This means that - on Twitter/Reddit/FB/etc., dangerous extremists are only banned after they've gained support to persist off-platform
This means that - on Twitter/Reddit/FB/etc., dangerous extremists are only banned after they've gained support to persist off-platform
https://twitter.com/CaseyNewton/status/1478533015458381824
The greatest value of social media to movements like QAnon, Boogaloo, white nationalists, etc. is in the growth phase.
The time to act is while they're small and ridiculed, before anyone has heard of them in the first place. But companies face no pressure at that point.
The time to act is while they're small and ridiculed, before anyone has heard of them in the first place. But companies face no pressure at that point.
Conspiracies have always existed.
60 years ago, conspiracists argued that fluoride was a Communist mind control plot. But no reputable publication would give them the time of day.
Social media has broken down those old gatekeepers. We're still grappling with the consequences.
60 years ago, conspiracists argued that fluoride was a Communist mind control plot. But no reputable publication would give them the time of day.
Social media has broken down those old gatekeepers. We're still grappling with the consequences.
It's a fundamentally conservative idea - that of Chesterton's fence - that not all changes are positive. Not all disruptions are good, despite the siren song of technological evangelists.
If you remove barriers without consideration, you'll soon discover that some are guardrails
If you remove barriers without consideration, you'll soon discover that some are guardrails
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