The Dumbing Down of America Due to Social Media
by John Lawrence
Freedom of speech has led to every nutcase expressing their opinion on social media. Some of them are even "influencers" regardless of their expertise. Conspiracy theories and unfounded advice preponderates and proliferates. Anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers get more "hits" than do recognized experts. Instead of reading respected newspapers like the New York Times or getting their news from reliable TV resources, people's eyes and minds are glued to alternative media. Since everyone's opinion is equal to every other person's opinion, it's no wonder that the bonafide experts aren't listened to. They are not as entertaining as the charlatans, and the charlatans are getting more hits on social media. I doubt whether many of the experts like Dr. Fauci are getting as many hits on social media as some of the snake oil salesmen.
There is only so much time in a day, and many peoples' time is taken up with social media rather than getting their news from reliable sources. Since they have "freedom," they are free to think whatever they want about any subject. Anyone's opinion, supposedly, is as valid as anyone else's opinion. That's why the COVID pandemic has not been gotten under control. The anti-vaxxers have as much control over public opinion as the vaxxers, thanks to social media. It's as if, when taking a test in school, there are no correct answers. One answer is as valid as some other answer. No reputable professor would tolerate such a state of affairs, but political leaders tolerate it because of freedom of speech. But one person's speech is not as valid as another's. The opinion of a recognized medical expert should have more weight than the opinion of Joe Blow.
Social media needs to be reined in, but government has a phobia about censorship. They do not want to be involved with it in any way, shape or form so they tolerate the fact that uniformed "influencers" have as much sway as recognized experts. The result is that the pandemic continues apace. The virus is winning. Social media is winning in attracting more of people's attention than reliable news sources. This phenomenon is all about attracting peoples' attention because that is profitable. Since the reliable news sources have to be concerned as well about supporting themselves with advertising, they have to try and make their reporting more palatable to the dumbed down populace. They can't convey too much information because it will turn off people who just want their news taken with a spoonful of sugar. They don't want to have to think too hard. The algorithms that social media implements insure that dumbed down infotainment will get more "hits" than will valid information.
