Navigating the Information Superhighway: Does Social Media Equal Social Responsibility
Should social media platforms continue to pave uncharted new technology roads or should these social media platforms become highly regulated vehicles, subject to restraints and rules?
Today, approximately 72% of Americans use at least one social media platform, such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. These platforms now serve users a wide range of content from viral dance challenges and lifestyle advice, to voicing political opinions and conspiracy theories. For millions of individuals including myself, social media has expanded beyond a way to connect with old friends to become a source of entertainment, information, and connectivity. However, with the benefits, comes the disadvantages such as a channel of misinformation and hate as opinions are presented as facts, and spread rapidly across platforms.
Taking into account the responsibility social media platforms bear, one wonders whether social media platforms can remain predominantly content agnostic as content moves with societal preferences and pressures or should platforms take responsibility to tightly monitor and censor content posted by users? Put simply, whose responsibility is content accuracy, the user or the platform?
The Complexity Behind the Platform
Social media networks are currently self-regulated, and rely on corporate procedures to moderate content and communities. American Social Media platforms have enjoyed protection under section 230 of the Communications Decency Act whereby providers and users of interactive computer platforms cannot be treated as publisher of information. As a result, platforms may allow users to post unpleasant information about others, leading to the spread of misinformation without any risk of liability. The majority of social media platforms employ algorithmic and human discretion to determine which content to censor on their sites. The platforms are permitted to be content agnostic with the goal of maximizing profit.
The Social Media Feedback Loop
Ultimately, social media platforms are profit driven. As a result, these firms are motivated to generate user engagement measured by clicks, regardless of the content driving such engagement. Joe Rogen’s million pay package with Spotify highlights the financial stakes despite Rogen and Spotify apologizing publicly for Rogen’s misleading and offensive content. As consumers click, this leads to boosted engagement which leads to revenue. The cycle repeats itself as higher revenue leads to more advertising and promotion which attracts users who click again and again, regardless of the emotion evoked in users.
So, Who IS Responsible?!
As I pondered this complex question, I have yet to reach a conclusive answer. However, this post aims to explain the shared responsibility users and platforms have to each other as individuals express their views and raise their voice on social media. There is a standard of civility and common sense that needs to be articulated that remains missing throughout the education and civic system.
Think Before You Speak
In School, we are taught to think before we speak. In the modern world, that translates to think before you post. Social media has provided a voice to millions of individuals, and opportunity to share, connect, and learn. While the question still remains, as users of the platforms, we have the right to share, yet a responsibility to one another before voicing our feelings to the world. Comparatively, as these platforms take over traditional media outlets, they too have a responsibility to minimize the spread of misinformation, and disinformation.
