Remediating Social Media: Why Layers Still Matter for Internet Policy - Response

Remediating Social Media: Why Layers Still Matter for Internet Policy – Annemarie Bridy

Area 1:

   The purpose of this reading from Annemarie Bridy is ultimately to present the argument that a "must-carry" obligation, although it may make sense in the larger sense of the internet in some ways, is not the best solution to remedy the current issues with social media. This argument is explored in three separate sections: the history and context of internet regulation, the current culture and failures of social media and it users, and the proposed cornerstones of social media moderation. As social media has shifted to a tool for harassment, political advancement, and other anti-social behaviors, Bridy argues that the way it is ran by executive positions must change as well.

     

Area 2:

   As I read this journal, particularly the section on selective enforcement of moderation by social media platforms, I was instantly reminded of an article I read recently about a group of LGBTQ+ Youtubers who were filing a lawsuit against Google for allegedly targeting them and preventing them from earning revenue from their content. From what I gathered on the situation, the issue isn’t necessarily with YouTube moderating its content, but rather the issue lies in the company not being clear on what constitutes a violation of their vague community guidelines. Because of examples like this, I completely agree with the tenets of effective moderation Bridy presented at the end of our reading (especially the ideas of clarity and consistency). More than ever, a level of distrust from the public towards social media executives has become clear through controversies of data collecting and political collusion. Because of this, it would only help these companies to be as transparent as possible with their expectations from their users. I think a lot of people would agree that private companies like these have the right to create the guidelines with which we can use their service, but the undisclosed rationale behind the silencing of certain groups of people can seem Orwellian if not handled properly by these tech giants.


https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49343823