Takeover

[AnelkasBeard]

That's nonsense, it's exactly the same as someone down the pub spreading gossip to make themselves feel important. It's been going on since the dawn of time.

Talking shite has been going on since man could talk, but the difference is the man in the pub had no clout and probably a reputation of being a bullshitter by those who got to know him.

Now though, it's so easy for that man in the pub to mask himself as an ITK big wig on social media.

Trouble is many people cannot see that and take rumours on Facebook etc as if the BBC had investigated and announced it. Misinformation spreads far quicker than Dave in the pub sounding off 30 years ago.

This is absolutely the case. The amplification of a single person's views via social media to often uncritical readers has created a world most appropriately described as 'post-truth'. It's the world exploited relentlessly by unscrupulous politicians and propagandists.

Quite simply, social media has created as many problems as it has solutions.

There are simply many people who do not deserve a voice on social media, who people in days of old could ignore. Equally there are those who were ignored that deserved their voice to be heard.

It is great and has advanced causes, but equally has also become a fantastic vehicle for misinformation and division by those with an agenda.

The amount of 'critical thinkers' who are totally unable to think critically is astounding.

All this.

Social media is toxic as fuck, but also can be used for good and to support people. It's the quintessential double edge sword, and I don't see how you'd solve the problems without limiting the benefits.