Half of Americans want a total shutdown of social media one week before election

[Stevicus]

52% Americans Prefer Facebook, Twitter Shutdown, Week Before Election 2020

A week before U.S. Elections 2020 on Nov. 3, the survey says most Americans want a total 'social media blackout.' These are due to several cases of fake news and misinformation on most media platforms.

"There's a pretty staggering level of concern for how ill-prepared social media platforms are for this election. I mean, a majority of voters effectively said, 'Screw it, shut it all down.' That's not to say we should do that, but it sends a clear message to Silicon Valley that they need to step up," Jesse Lehrich, founder of Accountable Tech, survey commissioner.

Other than the flagging techniques of platforms, 82% survey takers also support placing warning labels on accounts spreading false information about voting, and 85% support blocking posts calling for violence or spreading election misinformation altogether.

Interestingly, Facebook has the highest unfavorable views than other social media platforms, with a 52% rate. Most survey takers expressed dismay with the platform, saying that it is the least trusted news source out of them all.

A 2018 study also suggests Facebook was "among the three previous sites visited by respondents in the prior 30 seconds for 22.1% of the articles from fake news websites we observe in our web data." Only six percent of real news articles were seen on the platform.

In relation to prior Presidential Elections, The Guardian also written an article titled "Facebook's failure: Did fake news and polarized politics get Trump elected?" suggesting the platform's reach became Trump's secret weapon to win.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, however, only said that their company will do more adjustments in the future about the accusations.

Are you in favor of shutting down social media platforms?

I have mixed feelings about shutting down social media platforms. I still believe in the First Amendment and the right to free speech, but I can understand why some people would want to shut them down before the election.

Of course, if the fear is that the Russians or some other foreign government is trying to interfere, wouldn't it serve the same purpose to simply block all internet traffic which does not originate in the U.S.?

I was just wondering what others think about this.

 

[Twilight Hue]

There's a danger that people might start acting normal. Are you sure you want a shutdown?

 

[Terry Sampson]

Media Shutdown??? LOL! Whatever happened to "Just say 'No!'"
I suppose we could just start locking idiot addicts up, but who's going to pay for their incarceration?

 

[Heyo]

52% Americans Prefer Facebook, Twitter Shutdown, Week Before Election 2020







I have mixed feelings about shutting down social media platforms. I still believe in the First Amendment and the right to free speech, but I can understand why some people would want to shut them down before the election.

Of course, if the fear is that the Russians or some other foreign government is trying to interfere, wouldn't it serve the same purpose to simply block all internet traffic which does not originate in the U.S.?

I was just wondering what others think about this.

I'm against a government imposed prohibition but if a wide coalition of news services and pollsters could agree to not publish polls and/or ads two weeks before an election it would be a service to democracy.

 

[bobhikes]

I have mixed feelings about shutting down social media platforms. I still believe in the First Amendment and the right to free speech, but I can understand why some people would want to shut them down before the election.

Of course, if the fear is that the Russians or some other foreign government is trying to interfere, wouldn't it serve the same purpose to simply block all internet traffic which does not originate in the U.S.?

I was just wondering what others think about this.

I voted all, it would be a nice change. Emergency Broadcasts should be allowed through the Radio and TV but only Emergency Broadcasts. The weather should be nice for getting out and doing things and maybe talk with your neighbors of course wearing a mask.

 

[FearGod]

52% Americans Prefer Facebook, Twitter Shutdown, Week Before Election 2020







I have mixed feelings about shutting down social media platforms. I still believe in the First Amendment and the right to free speech, but I can understand why some people would want to shut them down before the election.

Of course, if the fear is that the Russians or some other foreign government is trying to interfere, wouldn't it serve the same purpose to simply block all internet traffic which does not originate in the U.S.?

I was just wondering what others think about this.

People should be free to check all information and sources before making their decision,
The media won't force anyone to make a specific decision.

 

[fantome profane]

As I have often said half of the population has a below average IQ.

 

[PureX]

No. It's a freedom of speech issue.

On the other hand, we need to do something about the wholesale lying that's going on in mass media. We need to legally define 'news" and set some legal requirements for it, to separate it from "opinion" and propaganda.

 

[Brickjectivity]

That is fascism. You shut down the media outlets, and you're going to really tick me off. That is an information blackout. Its pure disrespect for our public.

 

[Quetzal]

A few thoughts:

1. Despite my less than optimistic opinion regarding social media, I do not believe the government should dictate when they can offer their services.
   
2. I am not convinced that shutting them down a week before the election would change much. By then, I would suspect most folks know what they are going to do.

 

[Quetzal]

There's a danger that people might start acting normal. Are you sure you want a shutdown?

If you are suggesting I would have to have an actual conversation with someone (in person), I'm out!

 

[Quetzal]

I'm against a government imposed prohibition but if a wide coalition of news services and pollsters could agree to not publish polls and/or ads two weeks before an election it would be a service to democracy.

I like this idea more.

 

[Quintessence]

I can see the appeal, but simply shutting it down temporarily fails to address the actual problem. Granted, the actual problem is of such a scale that the solutions are both difficult and time-consuming, thus the appeal of superficial shortcut solutions that aren't really solutions.

Better solutions?

Use the propaganda engine that is "social media" against itself by strongly encouraging information literacy. Throw resources about information literacy in the faces of absolutely everyone who uses any of these platforms, at least once a day. Throw up annoying pop-ups to force them to actually learn this skill. Whatever it takes. Hell, require that all users take an information literacy course before they are allowed to use these platforms. In a broader sense, they could promote consumer advocacy too that trains citizens to spot scams and marketing ploys designed to manipulate how they think and react to things.

While one arm of the propaganda engine educates people, the other arm would be holding users accountable for their actions. This gets dicey, but I'm not naive enough to suppose that information literacy alone will resolve the massive problems of "social media." There have to be some sort of content standards, and those standards have to be enforced. This enforcement could even involve fines, because simply loosing account privileges isn't going to cut it. Just like you get fined for speeding, you could get fined for spreading misinformation that endangers the public. It would be very similar to existing laws we already have about things like inducing panic (Inducing Panic Law and Legal Definition | USLegal, Inc.).

I say "better solutions" fully aware of the trouble what I've suggested above would cause. But when we're to the point that people in my country live in two different "factual" universes because of rampant misinformation, I'm not seeing many other viable alternatives if we actually want to do something about this. We can, of course, just not do anything about it - like we're doing now.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

Into such a vacuum, gossip, rumor and speculation would flourish...

 

[fantome profane]

I think you should permanently shut down not only social media, but also all television and radio. Shut down the electrical grid and ban all electrical devices, and ban all cars and trucks. Truly return to 1776 and start all over.

 

[Quetzal]

Use the propaganda engine that is "social media" against itself by strongly encouraging information literacy. Throw resources about information literacy in the faces of absolutely everyone who uses any of these platforms, at least once a day. Throw up annoying pop-ups to force them to actually learn this skill. Whatever it takes. Hell, require that all users take an information literacy course before they are allowed to use these platforms. In a broader sense, they could promote consumer advocacy too that trains citizens to spot scams and marketing ploys designed to manipulate how they think and react to things.

I am 100% on board with something like this. I will counter a bit to say that this will probably never happen. Esp with Zucker and company. Most social media platforms would see this as a threat to profits because people would simply stop using the platform. What might eventually happen is someone would develop a platform clone that doesn't enforce such a thing and the problem would continue.

This problem is so complicated that I can't think of a viable solution at the moment.

 

[74x12]

52% Americans Prefer Facebook, Twitter Shutdown, Week Before Election 2020







I have mixed feelings about shutting down social media platforms. I still believe in the First Amendment and the right to free speech, but I can understand why some people would want to shut them down before the election.

Of course, if the fear is that the Russians or some other foreign government is trying to interfere, wouldn't it serve the same purpose to simply block all internet traffic which does not originate in the U.S.?

I was just wondering what others think about this.

Pointless. The situation is hopeless. Propaganda, mass mind control techniques; it's all normal now. I don't even know when the last time the public knew what was really going on.

 

[74x12]

At least with social media people might talk to each other instead of just getting everything shoveled into their heads from the MSM.

 

[Brickjectivity]

I would be in favor, though, of putting the nominees into quarantine and into an information blackout for 2 weeks prior and following. They would not be allowed to comment on the election until the results were decided. We should make an amendment.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Of course, if the fear is that the Russians or some other foreign government is trying to interfere, wouldn't it serve the same purpose to simply block all internet traffic which does not originate in the U.S.?

That would have some pretty drastic economic impacts, I would imagine.