Some insightful comments made in the linked video about why we find ourselves where we are today. Fake news is nothing new, and the example is given around the big tobacco companies trial from a few decades back, but what we have been seeing is verbatim reporting and re-shares on social media which spreads the fake news without any context. Even split reporting is not good enough (presenting both sides equally without context) and the case is made that the more recent handling of the anti-vax movement is showing a return to sanity. Part of the problem has also been scientists not acting for their part and just believing the "truth will out".
In many cases, like the tobacco trial. the disinformation is spread with a specific purpose in mind. More recently in politics we have seen lying without accountability and no shame, with the media not putting the lies in context (to prevent appearing to be biased). It is not about censoring the lies, but about stating them as well as the other side and then giving it context. For this the media needs to start taking a more active role.
We cannot have a situation where there is 1% of the people being very vocal about spreading disinformation and the 99% majority says nothing…. sound familiar? That is often the toxic state of social media that we find ourselves in. If the silent majority want to have rational discussions online they’ll also need to make their voices heard collectively, otherwise you can just expect social media to become more toxic (resulting in many leaving, or you’ll find posters disabling comments on posts).
One positive example I can give was on MeWe network where I had a few followers come out against a troll… and that troll disappeared pretty quickly, but it is a lone incident unfortunately.
Watch at https://youtu.be/EgE68NSffVI
#socialnetworks #fakenews #trolls
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