Kate StarbirdJan 5, 2023

An article from the January 6th committee's "purple team" on content that got left on the cutting room floor (from their final report) about the role of social media in motivating and mobilizing the January 6 attack on the Capitol: https://www.justsecurity.org/84658/insiders-view-of-the-january-6th-committees-social-media-investigation/

"One clear conclusion from our investigation is that proponents of the recently released “Twitter Files,” who claim that platform suspensions of the former President are evidence of anti-conservative bias, have it completely backward.

Insiders’ View of the January 6th Committee’s Social Media Investigation

Former investigators from the January 6th Select Committee's Purple Team discuss their assessments.

Just Security
Show threadKate StarbirdJan 5, 2023
Several great points in this article by the Jan 6th committee's "purple team", including: "The mainstreaming of far-right conspiracy theories and disinformation – which has been supercharged by years of inadequate content moderation efforts by platforms – existed long before Trump’s presidency and will exist long after he disappears from public life. Trump would not have been able to spread the Big Lie and mobilize thousands of his followers without social media platforms allowing him to do so."
Show threadMartha Howell
@katestarbird I am not saying social media played no role, but there were several large networks and mouthpieces (Fox, OAN, Bannon, etc.) amplifying the messaging, as well as the "both sides" press quoting their accusations. Imagine that world minus social media, and you can't say his message wouldn't have spread.
Jan 5, 2023 at 6:11pmWeb
Show threadKate StarbirdJan 5, 2023
@MHowell I agree. I think we have to consider the entire media ecosystem. Modern media campaigns (including disinformation campaigns) leverage different platforms (including cable news) in complementary ways. Social media facilitate a more participatory model, with tighter feedback loops between audiences and elites, which IMO are one (but not the only) "cause" of some of the dynamics we saw leading up to January 6.
Show threadMartha HowellJan 5, 2023
@katestarbird In my experience with people in the loop, social media spreads the theories, but rw media holds the most weight by "certifying" them. Hence: "It's not crazy, they are saying it on the news."