Big Tech Made the Social Media Mess

Big Tech Made the Social Media Mess

Identification of the Problem and its Importance

The paper addresses the problems tech companies created through social media. The main problem the article focuses on is violence and hate speech. Social media has provided people with an avenue to spew radical beliefs and hate speech. Incorporating internet tools with social media has empowered those whose driving force is hating to; plan, coordinate, advertise, and even pay using these tech platforms to commit hate speech and violence. The report focused on the two problems affecting tech companies and social platforms- hate speech and violence. It analyses some effects of these problems; some measures tech companies have tried putting in place in an aim to deal with the problem and possible recommendations to tech companies in dealing with the problem.

Important Factors to Consider

First, self-regulation is crucial for hate speech, violence, and criminal activities going on in these tech companies’ platforms. Due to the billions of people using these sites, it may be challenging to monitor their operations due to the unprecedented numbers. Tech companies, however, have to invest money in technology like AI to enable them to manage their content moderation better.

David Goldman points out that Tech companies have existing policies to guide their operations. With the heightened levels of violence and hate speech, it is evident the need for policy reforms. Tech companies have to review their policies to ensure they fight and curb hate speech and violence. Policies dictate the operations and rules of engagement. Better policies would reflect on better management of this vice. This can be seen in Google advertising policies that are under control.

David Goldman touches on the investments made by social networks in combating hate speech. However, he points out that the free flow of thoughts and expressions is the biggest undoing. There is a need to invest in people using these platforms, even if it means cutting back on profits for the greater good of society. Even though everyone has the right to have a twitter, Facebook, or YouTube account, these companies do not have to allow everyone posts their content. Limiting content through screening and vetting would go a long way in rectifying this vice.

Explain how you Weigh these Factors

Factors to consider in solving this problem weigh the same. Policy formation is equally essential compared to regulations and financial investments. For a complete overhaul and implementation of a working system in the eradication of this problem, there is a need to combine these three elements. Policy formulation is the building block, but it will not be possible without the financial muscle to back it up, for it needs the latest technology to enable implementation. The regulations- monitoring and controlling of content falls in the implementation of the policies, too, making the three woven.

A Careful Analysis of the Article

The article lays blame on tech companies for the current social media mess. Goldman is of the view that it is the responsibility of tech leaders to manage their creations, which are causing violence, hate speech, and anti-Semitism in the global society. Goldman duly notes the conflict of interests facing big tech companies. They have to maximize profits to investors but also have a responsibility to the community. These two aspects do not complement each other; a rise in one leads to a decline of the other.

In an attempt to address policy issues relating to big tech companies, he pointed out strides made by companies like Google, whose advertising policy is in reasonable control. He pointed out youtube’s content monitoring and how they quickly pull-down videos infringing on their violence promotion policies. He still acknowledges the need for renewed policy reviews for the effects of hate speech through these platforms are yet to be regulated. David pointed out the need to invest money in mitigating these problems and boosting safety standards. He points out Facebook’s initiative to invest billions of dollars in safety and security improvement. Goldman touches on the need to control the content posted on these platforms as a way to regulate violence and hate speech. This is seen when he points on twitters’ move to rid ISIS recruiters and close millions of fake accounts to improve safety. YouTube and Facebook also control content by identifying and labeling false stories and news.

Recommendations

1. Invest money in the development of software and Artificial Intelligence to boost monitoring and moderation of content.
2. Tech companies already have policies or terms of service that try to regulate hate speech and violence. Even though the rise in these cases signifies a need for readdressing and refocus these guidelines and policies to ensure they are fair, transparent, and effective.
3. This sphere of hate speech and violence was not foreseen nor anticipated when these social companies were being structured. Therefore, there is a need to do extensive research by experts and academicians to determine what is working and what needs to be changed. This will call for tech companies to be transparent and provide an accessible and consistent update of data on how their guidelines and policies are impacting violence and hate speech.

References

CNN. (2020). CNN. Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved March 23 2020, from

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/29/tech/social-media-hate-speech/index.html