“The real question that arises is what comes next? Social media platforms have come to take up so much of our lives that the decisions these platforms make now could have significant ramifications for the shape of the information environment and how we understand and engage with our worlds.” This is pretty exceptional because it represents a possible break in the values and philosophies of Silicon Valley. Twitter has become increasingly more likely to regulate content like political ads and questionable tweets, whereas Facebook has resisted similar measures - even to the dismay of some of their own employees in recent days.
“On this question, you’re starting to see a divergence among platforms as to how they see their proper place in society and democracy. As a result, the quality of information people receive from social media is becoming a bigger question. A recent Pew survey found nearly six in 10 people regularly use social media for news and while it’s not their only news outlet, it’s an important one. Instead of being places where people stay connected and share the details of their lives, they’re increasingly being used as sources of information. “We’re reaching a critical point regarding what role social media should play in society as these platforms - and how we use them - have evolved. This “infodemic,” as Dustin Carnahan calls it, puts misleading information front and center -adding fuel to politically contentious fires and escalating social issues to the level of crises.Ĭarnahan, an assistant professor of communications at Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences, shares his thoughts on what could happen if President Trump continues his controversial Twitter dialogue and how misinformation could impact the 2020 election.Ĭontent and dialogue on social media have taken major turns in recent years. With more and more people relying on social media for as a source for news, there are worries that such content could influence audiences unable to distinguish truth from fact or news from propaganda. Fake news, hate speech and misinformation is creeping through all social media platforms.