We’ve all heard the expression “The pen is mightier than the sword.” The meaning is simple. The written word is a powerful tool. Before Facebook, Twitter and other platforms, all newspapers held themselves to a high standard of what they printed and distributed and what they rejected as unfit for public view. Today social media has changed all that by putting a (loaded) pen in the hands of everyone. We read about the results of misinformation, dangerous info (like how to build a bomb), coded messages used by fringe groups to organize “events”, etc. Without doubt, Social media is the most dangerous weapon on the planet. Even our ex-president has been suspended from Twitter for spreading false and inciting language. We’re not even mentioning the lies coming from foreign enemies–especially during election events. And look at the damage done so far…election interference, COVID mis-information, false reports on Biden team actions, etc. All these lies disrupt and inflame everyday citizens into believing the fantasies of dangerously deranged people. “Divide and conquer.” It’s working. How do we combat this verbal onslaught? We have a suggestion. Mark Zuckerberg and other platform companies created this monster and they should be tasked with controlling it. So we suggest that the Federal Department of Justice demand a full report on how these social media companies will police the unacceptable use of their systems. If their solutions fail to work and the consequence can be traced to a specific platform (s), that company is eliminated. We can hear the screaming from all the social media “junkies” out there but this weaponized system cannot be allowed to exist unchecked. We can no more hand an AK 47 to a 10 year old in a crowded room and expect no casualties than we can allow nut jobs unrestricted access to a world-wide publishing resource. Either fix the platform or dismantle it–for the public good.
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