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Article By John Samples: Government Regulation Of Social Media

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Government Regulation of Social Media Social media has become an integrated part of our modern lives, shaping how we communicate, consume information, and interact with the world around us. With a rise in the use of social media, a new set of challenges is presented, more specifically in the moderation of our content. In this article written by John Samples, he argues that social media companies should be left to govern themselves, but I believe that government regulation is necessary to protect individuals from the negative effects of online content. Samples’ argues that government regulation of social media content moderation would infringe on free speech rights. He says, "social media platforms should be able to determine their own rules and standards for acceptable speech, without interference from the government." While I agree that companies should have the right to moderate content on their platforms, it is important to …show more content…

According to the author, "trying to restrict online speech is likely to be a useless exercise, given how swiftly technology and online behavior evolve." Although this may be true, other types of media, including television and radio, already have standards in place, and these regulations have proven effective in safeguarding citizens from harmful content. A report by the Center for Digital Democracy, states: "The responsibility of government in preserving the public interest is even more crucial in the digital era, when data and sophisticated algorithms may target and hurt vulnerable customers and communities”. This statement emphasizes the dangers of the digital age and the significance of government control at a time when users are more vulnerable than ever. Without government oversight, social media firms may prioritize profit over user safety, resulting in the continuous production of harmful

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However, the government does not have the responsibility to police what other citizens should or should not listen to as “the right to hear the speech of others is pro­tected by the First Amendment.” (Samples), deeming that act of censorship as unconstitutional. The responsibility to filter through one's media for offensive content falls on the user and not a federal authority which does not know what every citizen deems controversial or not. Therefore, “speech by and for social media users may be presumed to be free of government regulation” (Samples) and would only be counterintuitive for the government to perform as what is offensive is a relative subject. Clearly, media censorship for the purpose of protecting citizens is not a government responsibility as the government being the reviser of media can lead to the mass diffusion of misinformation, as well as lead to the systematic oppression of undesirable citizens.

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