Thanks for this thoughtful and thought-provoking piece about how the medium can shape the message (not always for the better). With technologists beginning to move beyond the mantra “we’re a neutral platform,” it’s exciting — and inspiring — to know that there are thoughtful UX professionals like you, who are willing to contribute their insights about the possibilities for genuine community online.

Ethically, the situation you address reminds me of the early days of Cybernetics. Having invented the field, Norbert Wiener felt called upon to write a book about how to make automation work in favor of humanity, “The Human Use of Human Beings.” The book we need nowadays would be called something like “Human Social Interaction and Social Media.” You’ve made a start. Thank you!