Reference no: EM133832572
Assignment:
I am confused on how to outline an essay, and I need help with articulating my main points.
The events of January 6th, 2021 did not materialize out of nowhere. Pro-Trump supporters, who believed President Trump's false assertions that the presidential election had been stolen, had been quite open on social media sites regarding their intentions to "storm the Capitol" in an effort to disrupt the certification of the electoral college results. In the aftermath of the violence that stunned the nation, President Trump was"deplatformed" on social media, and calls have rung out to hold social media companies accountable for the manner in which they have propagated false information in pursuit of profit. More broadly, these events should compel us to take a step back and analyze the role of social media in our political process and to consider potential reforms that would strengthen democracy and our civic institutions.
1) What role do you think social media played in facilitating the mob violence that took place at the Capitol on January 6th?
2) Do you agree with the decisions by tech companies such as Twitter and Facebook to "deplatform" former president Trump? Why or why not? How do you feel about the decision by these same companies to reverse course and once again allow Trump to access their platforms?
3) How has the explosion of social media shaped American politics over the past decade? Is social media a positive or negative factor in enhancing democracy?
4) What reforms, if any, do you think should be implemented in order to mitigate the harm that misinformation/disinformation plays in our political process?