This article has been imported from chorus.fm for discussion. All of the forum rules still apply. Taylor Lorenz, writing at The Atlantic: Instagram is teeming with these conspiracy theories, viral misinformation, and extremist memes, all daisy-chained together via a network of accounts with incredible algorithmic reach and millions of collective followers—many of whom, like Alex, are very young. These accounts intersperse TikTok videos and nostalgia memes with anti-vaccination rhetoric, conspiracy theories about George Soros and the Clinton family, and jokes about killing women, Jews, Muslims, and liberals. Expand - View Original
Gross...its amazing to think that social media was created within academic settings and is now the greatest contributer of misinformation that we have today.
What did they think would happen when people with all kinds of opinions and views can access a social media platform in this day and age with memes? I can’t count how many times I’ve seen flat earth conspiracy accounts and big chungas.
The best aspect of the internet: everyone can have a voice! The worst aspect of the internet: everyone can have a voice!
I’ve been off Facebook for 2 years and I quit Instagram and Twitter 6 months ago. Legitimately one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Don’t miss it at all.
Misinformation has been spread by every medium (ie Newspapers, television, radio, etc) anyway. If you absolutepunkers hate social media so much then just continue to deactivate your accounts and let the rest of us enjoy it.
Boohoo. Set your account to private and don't follow. But you're missing out on great content - my dog is cute af
No. But I rarely see it unless I seek for it; I enjoy debating/challenging misinformation (especially with the current political climate, i.e. Brexit negotiations). Certainly wouldn't deactivate my account over it. But maybe I'm not absolutepunk enough.
There was actually a pretty interesting interview on Last Week Tonight recently with Monica Lewinsky where she mentions having had to live through a social media-free era as the incessant target of public bullying and mentioned that she thought it might actually have helped her through the process to have it exist since people would have a way to message her any support at all.
I'm not following you, you smart man. I also don't think you know what the purpose of setting your account to private is.
"Misinformation has spread everywhere!" "There's actually very little misinformation, and I only come across it when I specifically look for it!"
Or you just misread. "By every medium (ie Newspapers, television, radio, etc) anyway." I said. Yes, like the equivalent of avoiding certain newspapers, TV shows, radio stations. Didnt deny the misinformation wasn't there but only when you're really seeking for it - else, get new friends?
Imagine running a website continuously posting articles mocking all social media websites whilst simultaneously using them and including plug-ins for users to share content on said social sites.