Thanks that’s helpful. Unfortunately, those in power have always been a target for those who disagree with them, you can trace this back millennia.
What this really brings to light is the power we have given social media and that is down to us all. Our family reading nights currently consist of Ian Lucas “Digital Gangster”. It’s so important to educate our children about the way social media manipulates. At 12 my son understands the way news is manipulated, he understands the importance of books on shelves rather than the cloud. He understands that throughout history there have been manipulators
and that the existence of these people will continue for as long as humanity does.
No one should feel threatened by the actions or words of another, but this has long been a consequence of human groups. We are hierarchical in nature, we are not all equal and some will always use whatever means to get to the top. Technology is making this more and more relevant as it infiltrates our homes.
If our Government somehow shuts down Elon Musk, another wanna be global leader will arise. They do that and a power vacuum rarely leads to an improved local dictator - keep an eye on Syria for that. The floodgates are open on how we receive information, if you control the flow of information you can control reality for a lot of people. You won’t stop the power hungry. The only thing you can do is teach citizens self defence. By that I mean, critical thinking, being able to research without the use of the internet (and fuck Chat Gp or whatever it’s called and the like - it doesn’t research it advertises and brainwashes). Looking at things in multiple ways, understanding paradoxes, understanding nuance. Screw the obsession with Stem subjects - bring the 7 liberal arts to the forefront of every school curriculum. Humans are adaptable, we need to adapt to the fact tech is dangerous more than helpful. It is a weapon. We need to learn to defend ourselves. Tech is a threat to democracy, but there’s no shoving that car back in the bag I’m afraid. Democracies need to respond to survive.
I feel sorry for Jess, she seems like a nice woman who is trying her best (although I don’t agree with her decision that is a seperate issue), and she must be scared. But shutting down free speech is not the answer, who decides what is allowed and not allowed? Look at Mark Zuckerbergs comments and actions today to see how politically driven this distinction is.
We need to act now to ensure that this virus that is social media (which will be exploited by every megalomaniac going forevermore) is limited in its effect by shoring up societies defences. Tech is only the friend of the person getting an advantage from it we need to ensure it is serving us.
We need to address the situations people are in that leave them vulnerable to every passing messiah and that includes real honesty, however uncomfortable of the experiences people are facing. This is right across the spectrum from young Muslims dragged into the death cult that is Isis, to white men finally feeling understood by the likes ofTommy Robinson.
The first step towards that is to stop being so divided. Look how we have slowly been manipulated into choosing sides, to vilifying anyone who doesn’t think like us, doesn’t put an X in the same place on a ballot sheet. Tory, Labour they’re just the same, slightly different accents, and coloured ties:blouses. It’s a waste of energy arguing over who tinkers with the same system best. It’s a tactic as old as time, divide and conquer. Ignore Musk et al and the divisions they cause, they’re just version 1.0 of the people who will use technology to create empires. Why take a wild black horse gather troops and march across continents when you can sit at your desk - build your own library in your new city and gather all the information of humanity in it. look at working with others, look at different perspectives, be honest about problems by understanding the problem in preference to defending your own position,