Not just Porn, if as you say, and I agree, childrens mind are more vulnerable to being hacked and addictions to negative online content is a real problem then the same applies to Social media more generally
Social Media is currently protected by the idea that it is a neutral platform so is not held to any legal liability for what is posted on their platform, arguing that you can't sue the phone company for something someone said on the phone.
However, this is a wildly out of date and absurd way to view modern Social Media, with the algorithms pushing certain posts into your feed, there is no way they should be treated as neutral platforms for their promoted posts, after all the phone company does not force phone calls into your home. So it should not be beyond the wit of man to write a law that holds Social Media platforms to the same legal responsibility of other media orgs for what they publish. If the Social Media platform promotes a post or link, then that should be considered as 'published' by the platform and face the same legal scrutiny as a story on Fox News or in the New York Times. If a post is written by someone you follow and then it shows up in your feed, OK that is not the responsibility of the platform, but if they promote it, if a post appears in your feed from someone you don't follow, then it is 'published' and if the platforms want to continue to promote posts then they need to employ humans to review the post before it becomes a promotable post, if they say they can't do this because it costs too much, then they can turn off the promotion algorithm or accept lower profits, the same way every other media org is forced to do by employing lawyers to review anything published before it is sent into the world
Indeed. There are legal efforts underway to bring about just this accountability. The tech lobby has billions to throw around, so it's an uphill battle, but I'm optimistic that common sense will win out in the end.
They’ve been smarter than just throwing money at it though
They have coded ‘free speech’ as a right wing value and have now stopped the effort of Republicans to change Section 230
So America is a lost cause for any regulation, hell Vance has even threatened the EU with a pullback on NATO if they try to regulate Big Tech
The EU and especially the UK with its (frankly absurd, but still) very strong libel laws, should call the bluff and regulate social media this way, Section 230 is after all an American not a global law, and pass a law treating promoted posts as published posts held to the same legal standard as any other media organisation, then let the platforms decide if they want to comply or leave the region with 500 million of the wealthiest consumers on earth
I feel our society will be judged by history like the bishops in the Church - we didnt speak up loud enough and forcefully or do anything. Meanwhile peoples hearts and minds and normal sexual development and mental health were sacrificed. First by the courts, then the media and finally online, nearly everyone capitulated while we watched a generation of sensitive, naive kids and young adults be terrorized and have their most awful feelings riled up, to know this is available to tempt every man and boy even though they are revolted. It seeks to stab at the heart of any modest dignified adult or child - how dare they do this to our kids. While we did what? Its terrorism.
Not just Porn, if as you say, and I agree, childrens mind are more vulnerable to being hacked and addictions to negative online content is a real problem then the same applies to Social media more generally
Social Media is currently protected by the idea that it is a neutral platform so is not held to any legal liability for what is posted on their platform, arguing that you can't sue the phone company for something someone said on the phone.
However, this is a wildly out of date and absurd way to view modern Social Media, with the algorithms pushing certain posts into your feed, there is no way they should be treated as neutral platforms for their promoted posts, after all the phone company does not force phone calls into your home. So it should not be beyond the wit of man to write a law that holds Social Media platforms to the same legal responsibility of other media orgs for what they publish. If the Social Media platform promotes a post or link, then that should be considered as 'published' by the platform and face the same legal scrutiny as a story on Fox News or in the New York Times. If a post is written by someone you follow and then it shows up in your feed, OK that is not the responsibility of the platform, but if they promote it, if a post appears in your feed from someone you don't follow, then it is 'published' and if the platforms want to continue to promote posts then they need to employ humans to review the post before it becomes a promotable post, if they say they can't do this because it costs too much, then they can turn off the promotion algorithm or accept lower profits, the same way every other media org is forced to do by employing lawyers to review anything published before it is sent into the world
Indeed. There are legal efforts underway to bring about just this accountability. The tech lobby has billions to throw around, so it's an uphill battle, but I'm optimistic that common sense will win out in the end.
They’ve been smarter than just throwing money at it though
They have coded ‘free speech’ as a right wing value and have now stopped the effort of Republicans to change Section 230
So America is a lost cause for any regulation, hell Vance has even threatened the EU with a pullback on NATO if they try to regulate Big Tech
The EU and especially the UK with its (frankly absurd, but still) very strong libel laws, should call the bluff and regulate social media this way, Section 230 is after all an American not a global law, and pass a law treating promoted posts as published posts held to the same legal standard as any other media organisation, then let the platforms decide if they want to comply or leave the region with 500 million of the wealthiest consumers on earth
I feel our society will be judged by history like the bishops in the Church - we didnt speak up loud enough and forcefully or do anything. Meanwhile peoples hearts and minds and normal sexual development and mental health were sacrificed. First by the courts, then the media and finally online, nearly everyone capitulated while we watched a generation of sensitive, naive kids and young adults be terrorized and have their most awful feelings riled up, to know this is available to tempt every man and boy even though they are revolted. It seeks to stab at the heart of any modest dignified adult or child - how dare they do this to our kids. While we did what? Its terrorism.
Thank you for your work on this incredibly important issue.
Well said. I wish our ProLife responses to “essential women’s health” would be as clear.