[himinlomax]

That should be a good hint to reconsider your assumption that misinformation is that big of a problem. This "fake news" nonsense has all the hallmarks of a moral panic, in line with satanic abuse of the 80s or terrorim radicalization of the 2000s. Not to say it's not an actual problem, but it seems to me to be more of an excuse for the ole' media gatekeepers to do whatever to hang onto their power.

[Dylan16807]

This is a weird comment to read. I think misinformation is a big problem, and I don't blame it on fake news, which is a niche problem.

From what I've seen misinformation is usually just lies, not pretending to be news.

[TeMPOraL]

> or terrorim radicalization of the 2000s.

I think this is interesting in context of "moral panic" - in that this actually happened, just not the way (I think) you mean. The misinformation surrounding the events of the first decade of this century has radicalized Westerners - made the western societies a couple orders of magnitude more afraid of terrorism than it's warranted. And this had political implications.

[addicted]

It would only be comparable to the satanic panics if those included satan ascending from the depths of the earth and admitting his demons do enjoy people Playing D&D.

I mean, you do realize that FB itself has admitted that it’s network was used and misused in the genocide of the Rohingya for example? Or that widespread fake news on its platforms in India has led to many a false murder? Or that malignant agencies used its network to manipulate people with false news in both US and UK elections?

The list is long, but the point is that unlike the satanic scare of the 80s there have been very real and negative effects.

Also, no “old media” outlet ever had billions of users, of which it was able to build detailed individual psychological profiles which they could then use to target for misinformation.

The idea that old media’s access is simply passing onto Facebook is beyond ridiculous. FB and the like have created an information and manipulation monster the likes of which the world has never seen.

[rsynnott]

Last week, there was a march of about a thousand people in my city, many of them 'vulnerable' (ie elderly), packed tight, no masks to be seen, protesting about the COVID 'hoax'. That seems harmful, potentially _very_ harmful.

The other day I was at the supermarket, and one of them was trying to get in with no mask, shouting in the face of an employee about masks being a conspiracy.