Facebook admits it's effect on Democracy and politics

 

Facebook acknowledged Monday the complicated effect its social network has on politics, admitting that it hasn't always been positive for democracy.  In a series of blog posts, Facebook reckoned with the social media giant's effect on the global political process.  “Facebook was originally designed to connect friends and family — and it has excelled at that,” wrote Samidh Chakrabarti, Facebook’s product manager for civic engagement. “But as unprecedented numbers of people channel their political energy through this medium, it’s being used in unforeseen ways with societal repercussions that were never anticipated.”  Chakrabarti admitted that Facebook was “too slow” in dealing with threats in 2016.  Katie Harbath, Facebook’s global politics and government outreach director, also acknowledged the potential harm the platform could cause when left unchecked.  “From the Arab Spring to robust elections around the globe, social media seemed like a positive. The last US presidential campaign changed that, with foreign interference that Facebook should have been quicker to identify to the rise of ‘fake news’ and echo chambers.”  Both Chakrabarti and Harbath stressed that Facebook is now committed to stamping out abuse and manipulation of its platform.