Charles Johnson

There’s a lot of talk about the harm social media does to society, but I’d argue that mainstream media is a FAR larger problem.

Fox News may be the biggest example, but there’s a rot in the entire news media complex and as usual it comes down to money. Journalism has increasingly been replaced with “narratives” and both-sides rhetoric, chasing after clicks and views and advertising dollars.

This is how fascism takes root in the 21st century, through late stage capitalism.

Apr 23, 2023 at 7:13pmSidetoolz
Show threadc.gerrishApr 23, 2023

@Green_Footballs

It’s the combination. They amplify each other.

Show threadMcNullaApr 23, 2023
@Green_Footballs
I’m just as disappointed in CNN and MSNBC. While FOX are liars, all three promote hate.
Show threadShadeprintApr 24, 2023

@Green_Footballs You could even argue that before mainstream media was hosted on sites like Facebook and YouTube, social media was nowhere near as harmful.

I'd definitely agree that social media definitely worked hard to independently become toxic by itself.

Show threadLegionApr 24, 2023
@Green_Footballs One wonders, though, if journalism would have sunk to this without the path laid for it by the internet.
Show threadmaegulApr 24, 2023

@Green_Footballs same argument happened ~20yrs ago (around take off of YouTube) and was true then too.

Bottom line was/is that the internet and social media prompt people to be active and to engage. TV and mainstream media prompt people to consume from a central source.

If the former goes awry, you get dynamics with built in potential for self correction/buffering.

The latter going awry risks the collapse of the society and its civilisation, or at least its corruption.

Show threadDavid States, MD PhDApr 25, 2023
@Green_Footballs @mackayim2022 If you haven't read Tim Snyder's "On Tyranny", do it, now. It's short, readable, and important advice https://timothysnyder.org/on-tyranny
On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder - Timothy Snyder

On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder is a call to arms and a guide to resistance, with invaluable ideas for how we can preserve our freedoms in the uncertain years to come.