Facebook, Google and Amazon are among the richest and most powerful companies in the world and are increasingly coming under attack for how they use consumer data and what they allow to be said on their platforms. At the moment Facebook has taken the spotlight as the chief culprit.
This is an investigative report the WSJ published.
This is an interview with Frances Haugen, the whistleblower who has now testified in Congress
This is another segment on CBS: Combating fake news on Facebook
Mark Zuckerberg’s response to the whistleblower.
I’ve also included some older pieces including Kara Swisher’s viewpoint and Prof Galloway’s podcast in which he interviews Sinan Aral, the author of The Hype Machine: How Social Media Disrupts Our Elections, Our Economy and Our Health – And How We Must Adapt” to provide some further information
Lastly, here is some clarification on whether the first amendment applies to social media.
Here’s your assignment:
For as much positive change as social media has created, it has arguably been a negative disrupter in society. There is no easy answer as to what needs to be done, just that something needs to be done.
One of the solutions that is discussed is the idea of breaking up the dominance of players like Facebook. Other solutions include getting rid of Section 230 and forcing social media platforms to be accountable in the way traditional media platforms are.
Based on what you have read and what you know so far, what do you think?
Discuss this issue and tell us your point of view.