Meta restricted the No Kings Coalition Instagram account on early voter registration day, and it left the Equinox with questions about how social media has impacted local journalism and free speech over the years.
Information is incredibly valuable in the world, and there used to be a time when information could be taken in by consumers, and it would be the truth, or at least close to it. However, with the rise of social media, anyone has the ability to instantly spread misinformation to thousands of people, sometimes without even realizing it. Some people post fearmongering content to scare others into making choices about what they eat or who they vote for, and others attempt to relay facts that have not been fact-checked or proven true. The spread of misinformation is like a wildfire to a dry forest: It is nearly impossible to stop once it begins.
Social media companies like Meta and X are also currently being run by billionaires, who in the end get the final say about which videos, comments and profiles are allowed to stay up on the platforms and which ones get restricted or taken down. There was a time when people who opposed change would have to tear down posters and physically remove rioters from protests, but now all that needs to be done is click a button to suspend the account that tells people where to go if they want to make a difference. Is it still freedom of speech and assembly if we are no longer able to readily find out where we are supposed to assemble and speak? If the No Kings Coalition account was taken down, would it not be fair to also take down a Turning Point USA account? Everyone has their own views, and it is not fair that billionaires who kiss up to the president and are clearly affiliated with one side of the political spectrum get to decide whose content people can and cannot see.
With the popularization of getting information on social media, the Equinox also worries about local news outlets during this time. People say that they want to stop being misinformed, yet they do not look towards their local news stations or newspapers. It is the job of journalists to provide unbiased reporting on current events, both local and national, regardless of their own political affiliation. They are trained and taught how to report on issues in a way that educates the readers or listeners without their personal biases getting in the way unless it is a piece where they are allowed to, and social media influencers are typically not, so those looking to avoid misinformation would do better looking at their local news outlet than they would at their For You page.
We also look at how politicians have been acting over the last several years. Many campaign ads are focused on attacking their opponents rather than informing the public on what they are going to provide if they get voted in. If a campaign exclaims that voters should not vote for their opponent simply because they are not in the same political party, and they do not say what they are planning to do differently than their opponent, voters do not have any other basis to go on other than party. Many voters go in uninformed, casting their vote based on a TV ad or social media post or even just based on last name, so if politicians spend all their time and money focusing on telling voters that their opponent is bad because of their party, voters will oftentimes just end up more confused than they were before.
Social media apps and billionaires do not act in the best interests of the people; they act in the best interests of their wallets and what will make them more money. Staying properly informed is the best thing you can do for yourself, and it certainly would not hurt to pick up a copy of your local newspaper once in a while.
