Social media platforms have a huge responsibility on hand when it comes to addressing the spreading like wildfire of online misinformation. They have a huge influence over billions of news sources. Platforms must do the work to combat false info and it entails having robust fact checking systems combined with algorithmic fixes to make it super easy to find the truth instead of resorting to blanket censorship which would infringe upon free speech.
There are viable solutions technology can propose to weed out and limit misinformation. A human then manually views context from the flagged content and makes the final decision. Efforts to work with independent fact checkers and being transparent about moderation processes can increase credibility. But a realistic definition of harmful misinformation, separate from personal opinion, is necessary to avoid the spectre of overreach.
The fight against misinformation is improved by education. Meanwhile, users can be promoted to become better at figuring out who the trustworthy sources are through promoting digital literacy and critical thinking. Instead of telling us what to believe, social media companies need to back projects that allow users and empower them to resist the threat of lies whilst maintaining democratic dialogue.
And, as a necessary corollary, it must be regulated and made accountable. If you are a platform or a government, you then have to collaborate because we know that they cannot do it alone and together they have to put in place clear rules about what is the misinfo that – during local elections or during a pandemic or any other kind of crisis… – they can take down. However such measures shouldn't silence dissenting voices or sanitize proper criticism in the name of misinfo control.
Finally it seems to come down to a balance of both. Combining technological tools, user education and responsible policy making, social media platforms do well in countering misinformation. It is an approach that respects freedom of expression but which cuts off harmful content fairly and transparently.
Conclusion
A small, intentional, transparent and multifaceted effort to combat misinformation on social media doesn’t mean censorship. From empowering users to improving fact checking mechanisms or ensuring accountability, all restrain false narratives and preserve the democratic values. Education, innovation and integrity equal the solution rather than censorship.
