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Tim Dower: Facebook is a dangerous platform

Author
Tim Dower,
Publish Date
Thu, 22 Nov 2018, 7:04AM
And with all its security flaws, it's been victim to some pretty sinister activity. Photo / 123RF

Tim Dower: Facebook is a dangerous platform

Author
Tim Dower,
Publish Date
Thu, 22 Nov 2018, 7:04AM

On social media, and in particular the juggernaut that is Facebook.

I watched Mark Zuckerberg's interview with CNN and he is banging on about how it gives people a voice.

And he made a barely veiled criticism of the mainstream media, talking about gate-keepers.

And historically, that's been an important part of the role of the media. Not to censor – I would  argue it's more about moderating.

Weeding out the purely vicious and malicious, calling out liars when we can catch them, the audience from the rantings of the plainly insane.

Now, with the internet, anyone can literally say anything in a public forum, and get away with it.

Is this a good thing? Clearly not, in some situations.

If you think about talk radio and talk-back callers as an example, our job here is to be the filter.

To challenge and test a person's opinion, to help them express it, to shoot them down when they're factually wrong, to prevent libellous and defamatory things being said.

Does that make us a gatekeeper? Well, yes it does, but isn't that the point.

Facebook has fought hard NOT to be thought of and dealt with as a publisher, yet it does provide a platform for people to say literally, anything.

And with all its security flaws, it's been victim to some pretty sinister activity.

In the end, how much does it matter?

When two billion people are exposed the platform has an immense potential to influence. And influence is power.  

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