One of the defining issues of 2020—and honestly, the last few months as well—is how social media makes it nearly impossible to distinguish fact from fiction. Sure, misinformation has always existed, but social media has amplified it to dangerous levels. When high-profile figures like Donald Trump—or anyone with significant influence—post something, sure, it can be fact-checked. But keeping up with the constant flow of content and ensuring that nothing false slips through the cracks? That’s practically impossible for platform owners.
The real debate revolves around responsibility. Who should be held accountable when fake news spreads like wildfire? That’s where Section 230 comes in, a law that says social media platforms aren’t liable for the content shared on their sites. It’s a hot topic, and rightfully so. At the end of the day, shouldn’t we, as individuals, take responsibility for what we post and share? Publishing content isn’t exempt from scrutiny just because it’s on social media.
Further information
- How to save Facebook from democracy, by Francis Fukuyama, Barak Richman, and Ashish Goel on Foreign Affairs
- Don’t Blame Section 230 for Big Tech’s Failures. Blame Big Tech. by Elliot Harmon on EFF
- more