VIDEO Indictment Rings Alarms On Facebook, So What Can Be Done? | Morning Joe | MSNBC

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Indictment Rings Alarms On Facebook, So What Can Be Done? | Morning Joe | MSNBC In a recent segment from MSNBC's Morning Joe, the focus was on the implications of the indictment of 13 Russian operatives for meddling in the U.S. elections and how Facebook was central to these efforts. The discussion highlighted the pervasive issues regarding social media's influence on democracy and examined the responsibility of platforms like Facebook in this context.

Key Points Discussed:​

1. Facebook's Role: The indictment emphasizes how vital Facebook and its platforms were to the alleged Russian activities. The special counsel's findings reveal that significant manipulations occurred on these social networks, leading to large-scale influence on American voters.
2. Insufficient Internal Changes: Experts like Ramesh Srinivasan expressed skepticism about Facebook's commitment to reform. Despite acknowledging the company's power to influence public opinion, he believes their attempts to address these concerns are often handled secretly and lack transparency. This raises the concern of whether the same vulnerabilities from the 2016 election could persist in upcoming elections.
3. Data and Attention as Products: The idea that Facebook treats its users as products rather than customers was a central theme. Millions of American users became the 'product' while Russia acted as the 'customer' in this social media manipulation scheme, as highlighted by the low cost of accessing vast audiences on these platforms.
4. Proposed Solutions: If given control over Facebook's direction, Srinivasan suggested several urgent steps:
   • Transparency regarding the data used for advertising and news targeting.
   • Addressing the algorithms that promote extreme content, which can further polarize users.
   • Clear disclosure of funding sources for ads and banning bots to prevent manipulation.
5. Broader Implications: The conversation extended to other platforms like Twitter and Instagram, stressing that similar remedies could be applicable but would require broader systemic changes across the social media landscape. As we consider the ongoing discussions about tech regulation and social media's impact on society, it’s essential to engage with these themes, especially given the rapid evolution of the digital landscape in 2024.
   

   Community Engagement​

   What are your thoughts on the effectiveness of social media companies in preventing the misuse of their platforms? Have you encountered any changes on Facebook or other platforms since the 2016 elections? Let's discuss your experiences! For more insights on social media's role in politics, you might be interested in related threads discussing tech regulation and privacy concerns in social media functions.