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>> "Facebook simply kills democracy for their own benefit." No, people and politicians are killing democracy. People choose to get their news from unreliable
by k-mcgrady 10y ago
>> "Facebook simply kills democracy for their own benefit."
No, people and politicians are killing democracy.
People choose to get their news from unreliable sources. They act like they care about an issue yet only know the headline. But they can sign an online petition and post it on social media so they look and feel good.
Politicians can openly lie on the largest of stages. When called out on it (which rarely happens) they can stick to their lie despite opposing evidence. And they win because of it. A good example of this was the claim during Brexit that £350m per week would go to the NHS if we left the EU. After the referendum was over one of the leading figures admitted on TV that the claim was BS. When you can win by openly lying to the people, why wouldn't you? I think in situations like this elections/votes should be re-run.
My point is that Facebook has nothing to do with democracy. There are plenty of alternative news sources, some that are even reliable, and people instead get their news on Facebook because they don't actually care.
- pjc50 10y agoIndeed. Fake news sarts at the top. From today's Mail: "Now for Italexit! Italian Prime Minister resigns after EU referendum loss" https://twitter.com/MailOnline/status/805670033875726336 https://twitter.com/MailOnline/status/805670033875726336 .. except that the referendum has nothing to do with the EU, it was about internal constitutional change, and Italy is no closer to leaving the EU. People read the Mail and Express because they don't care about whether their news is reliable, reasonable or democratic.
- TheGirondin 10y agoThey read the Mail and Express because their counterparts are biased and devoted to pushing narratives, and have little interest in informing anyone when it's inconvenient to their worldview.
- pjc50 10y agoThey read the Mail and Express because those papers are biased and devoted to pushing narratives, surely?
- skuzye 10y agoHow can you tell one reputable source from others? Better: how can you tell when one reputable source has a hidden agenda to slight push one way or the other without people noticing?