That was probably the only point Zuckerberg made that I agree with, though I don’t doubt that we think that way for different reasons.
If I know social networks are deleting ads or posts that are deemed untruthful then 1) how do I see who determines the truthfulness of the network’s content and 2) how can I trust that nothing else is being removed at will? It’s a classic argument.
Personally, I trust myself to filter through information and make informed decisions; more so than Facebook or Twitter. I think that many people prefer not to make informed political decisions on their own for a variety of reasons. Be it a lack of time, ambition, or research knowledge, it harms us as a whole when we allow ourselves to be told what political opinions to hold.
What if the networks aren't deleting the content but just not distributing it to you? For example, Facebook determines what shows up on my newsfeed. If my friend posts something, and Facebook guesses that I won't be interested in it, it won't show on my newsfeed (I think) or it will be buried in the less important section. It may still exist on my friend's wall because he posted it, but I don't see it unless I actively go to his wall.
So even if the networks don't delete the content, they are already determining what we should and shouldnt see, no?
I’m not sure how much of the population would agree with me here, but I would prefer to be shown content organically. I’m talking posts sorted chronologically, not cherry picked for me, just the raw feed essentially.
Having an algorithm or AI determine what I will or won’t see on a social media page is marginally better than a person deciding that no one should see that content. With that said, my bottom line here is that I would prefer that my internet experience go completely untampered with. I come online to discover new things that I wouldn’t see otherwise. Whether that’s a new hobby or a political falsehood, I want to discover and form an opinion on it myself.
That was probably the only point Zuckerberg made that I agree with, though I don’t doubt that we think that way for different reasons.
If I know social networks are deleting ads or posts that are deemed untruthful then 1) how do I see who determines the truthfulness of the network’s content and 2) how can I trust that nothing else is being removed at will? It’s a classic argument.
Personally, I trust myself to filter through information and make informed decisions; more so than Facebook or Twitter. I think that many people prefer not to make informed political decisions on their own for a variety of reasons. Be it a lack of time, ambition, or research knowledge, it harms us as a whole when we allow ourselves to be told what political opinions to hold.