NEWS: IG Threads blocks all searches related to covid and vaccines in the midst of a major covid surge.
Public health experts denounced the platform’s moderation policies, which they say restrict access to critical health information
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/09/11/threads-covid-coronavirus-searches-blocked/
Agreed. They probably just want to not deal with the flood of misinformation that’s undoubtedly going to come
Exactly. This should be part of basic internet literacy: learn to find actual credible sources of information, which social media is not.
Blocking search of those terms won't make a dent in the spread of dis/mis-info (especially given that their algos and easy-system-gaming already allow for it).
Alternative (and most likely) hypothesis:
They are preventing dis/mis info researchers from DOING THE RESEARCH--which relies heavily on search, thus preventing data from being published about how bad the spread of dis/mis-information is on their platforms.
@VirginiaMurr @jsj @taylorlorenz
That’s absurdly conspiratorial.
The far simpler explanation is they neither want to get in trouble for spreading misinformation or invest in dealing with it so they just wash their hands of it altogether.
“never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by neglect, ignorance or incompetence.”
Neither absurd nor conspiratorial.
It is absolutely in-line with the platforms' previous antagonistic relationship with researchers.
Just one example:
https://www.npr.org/2021/08/04/1024791053/facebook-boots-nyu-disinformation-researchers-off-its-platform-and-critics-cry-f
Side-note: If they wanted to stop the spread of mis/dis-info they would first and foremost fix their algos. They've not done that. That's a glaring indication that this move isn't the puritanical motivation you seem to want to believe.
@earthlingusa @jsj @taylorlorenz @VirginiaMurr
Not everything in the universe is driven by a researcher doing a study 🤦♂️
“This way they can say they’re not participating in Covid misinfo while not stopping it.” Yes, this is precisely what they’re doing. It’s the lazy negligent method of doing the bare minimum to say they’re doing something. There’s nothing well meaning or altruistic about this.
But it’s not a war against researchers. And it’s conspiratorial to think it is.
Because journalism totally can't happen unless a study is published in a university press first.
A quick reminder that this is Zuck we're talking about. The same guy who thought it would be "good" to target KIDS who are emotionally vulnerable, so Zuck could make a buck.
(2017)
https://www.wired.com/2017/05/welcome-next-phase-facebook-backlash/
Taylor Lorenz
jsj
Sukrit Tan
Jeramee
Virginia Murr
Earthling
Scott D. Strader 😐
Emily