The ever-evolving digital age of new media is here and is creating backlash in particular social media networks. Nowadays, everyone has a smartphone within reach, including multiple social media networks at their fingertips, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.
Social media has been ingrained in our daily lives ever since Mark Zuckerberg struck gold in 2004 and launched The Facebook. Now instead of a small software app that initially was utilized to connect Harvard students amongst each other, Facebook connects over 2.8 billion people worldwide.
Recently, social media regulation has been a hot topic, with Twitter banning former President Donald Trump permanently or with Facebook banning news in Australia. Facebook had blocked news content to Australia due to spiraling news of a proposed law that would force Facebook and other social media platforms to pays news publishers for content. Others would think this is a positive proposal from the Australian government since it would reduce the spread of “fake news” that could cause misinformation to users. Does Facebook not want to ensure the accuracy of its news?
For as long as social media existed, there has always been a battle with regulation and government. However, in the Los Angeles Times, Mark Zuckerberg describes the necessary regulations and updates that need to be enforced in his company and all the other major tech giants. In the article, he discusses how lawmakers need to pass a bill used to regulate rules against harmful content and the legal liability behind these major social media platforms. But at what point does that entirely prevent “fake news” and misinformation?
Other social media platforms are at fault, not just Facebook. Furthermore, these social media networks need to make news regulation a top priority to ensure that their users stay and are not misinformed. In addition, Instagram has their horrors of misinformation and fraud. For example, in 2017, Billy McFarland founded Fyre Festival, one of the biggest music festivals flopped in history and was solely built upon social media influencers such as Hailey Baldwin, Kendall Jenner, and Bella Hadid. Fyre Festival was “the party that never happened” and fell quickly. Still, the festival that was supposed to be the next Coachella was built on fraudulent information spread throughout Instagram through influencers. The horrors and scandal of the 2016 election and how the election was tilted in Trump’s favor were revealed with stolen data and user exploitation through Facebook. Social media has a long way to go before it can be fully trusted and regulated. So till on proceeding with caution.
Journalism 2.0 