Just when it appears all aspects of our First Amendment will be lost to the lunatic left and their revisionist constitutional narrative, Mark Zuckerberg emerges as the arbiter of free speech. Has the world gone completely mad? The progressive safe space seekers and promoters of Stepford Wives’ thoughts and deeds are certain democracy and the 2020 election is doomed as Facebook has decided to forgo policing of political ads.
As 2020 is here and paranoid thoughts turn to somehow getting through another contentious election, with or without Russia, social media giant Facebook has struggled with what is being termed “media literacy.” Specifically, just what might qualify as literate. The hall monitors of politics are near apoplectic at the news that Facebook will allow political ads to micro-target users while exempting ads from fact-checking policies.
Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth sent a memo to Mr. Zuckerberg explaining his resistance to monkeying with advertisers:
“If we limit what information people have access to and what they can say then we have no democracy at all.”
Expanded Transparency
In a speech to Georgetown University late last year, Zuckerberg defended his unpopular position of a seemingly lock-step media narrative: Only progressives are allowed free speech. “More people across the spectrum believe that achieving the political outcomes they think matter is more important than every person having a voice.”
But as Liberty Nation’s Jeff Charles pointed out, “What is even more concerning about the backlash against Zuckerberg’s stance regarding online speech is the political motivation of those creating it. Many on the far left have been pushing for more restrictions on speech, especially on social media platforms.” Free speech for me and none for thee. It’s quite disturbing how many folks feel the need to censor those with differing opinions.
Mark Zuckerberg (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
So, the Zuck settled on a solution: “expanded transparency” – allowing users to learn about what ads are targeting them and why.
The wails from the left are still echoing from sea to shining sea, and mostly on Twitter. Federal Election Commission’s Ellen Weintraub went a bit crazy: “Facebook’s weak plan suggests the company has no idea how seriously it is hurting democracy. No one is a bigger believer in transparency than I. But here, proposing ‘transparency’ solutions is window-dressing when Facebook needs to be putting out the housefire it has lit.”
Apparently, no one believes Facebook’s two billion users have any critical thinking skills. Most hard-working Americans, who struggle along, raise their kids, and pay bills, can sniff out a false source of news. It is unfortunate for many Democrats and progressives that they cannot discern the difference between satire and straight news, but that’s a whole different conversation.
As we hurtle towards November 3, 2020, everyone is remaining vigilant – our social media platforms need not wade into those waters any further. Just ask Facebook.
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Read more from Sarah Cowgill.
