Social Media Disparities: They Are Facts – Find, but not when it comes to a campaign ad!
Although we often refer to them as social networks, the reality is that it is often anything but social! How often do we see a couple sitting in a restaurant, both busy on their smartphone, instead of actually talking and communicating with each other? Many surveys also indicate that too many people collect most of their so-called news and information in this type of media. Recently, the major social apps established their policies regarding election advertising and posts. Although, due to public pressure, they started doing some sort of fact-checking/finding on daily posts, they announced that they would allow political ads, without these checks! Already, some of the posts on the most widely used social media app by the Trump campaign were accepted, despite many TV stations/networks refusing to put them up, because they were proclaimed grossly wrong, and too negative. / prejudiced! With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly consider, examine, review, and discuss 4 concerns that this behavior exposes/risks.
one. Shouldn’t there be rules? They have already accepted and allowed ads from the president’s re-election campaign, which are unproven at best and most likely outright distortions/lies. These included unproven claims about the Biden family, as well as major misstatements, about President Trump’s so-called accomplishments to date! We have spent the last, almost 3 years, worried about the damage caused by the Russians etc. during the 2016 elections, with their social media posts, however, instead of demanding better and more, the the bar has been lowered!
2. Politics benefits campaigns, who lie and make distorted statements, more!: Is there not enough lying and too little genuine integrity in politics? This policy gives campaigns that rely, for the most part, on telling lies, blaming and complaining, and taking little personal responsibility, an advantage!
3. Makes the content unreliable or untrustworthy: This short-sighted decision, probably made for either political/personal agenda, reasons, or simply to make money, results in making posts unreliable, etc. In the longer term, transform this format, into a digital version, of a tabloid newspaper!
Four. Repeating the same mistakes, and combining them: Have they learned nothing from the last presidential elections? This policy provides the message, while people are not allowed to post certain misinformation, it’s okay, for paid political advertising, to do so!
Wake up, America, because the concept of free elections and an informed electorate is at risk! Demand better, more responsible behavior and, in the meantime, find more responsible ways to collect real facts. Remember, there are no such things as real and alternative facts! Either it is a fact, or it is not!
