A healthy democracy is fuelled by reasoned, respectful discussions
Social media is structured for debates, not discussions
Debates are one side versus another, fuelling a desire to be right
The desire to be right takes over from reason
Reason allows us to recognise the world doesn’t work in black and white, but many shades of grey
The result of which is extreme views are amplified, but voices of reason get lost in the stream
All of which would be of limited impact if media journalism didn’t follow suit
Traditional media now promotes debates instead of discussion
In doing so, they help validate and amplify the extreme views of the minority
The platforms for discussions are gone
Discussions are extinct, and a healthy democracy is breaking down
How do we fix it?
Do we regulate social media and traditional media to promote more objective content?
No
Regulation only ensures the entrenched, large established companies continue to dictate the narrative in the future by raising the administrative barrier for new media to emerge
It won’t promote reasoned discussions as companies are only driven by profit
Social media and traditional media companies only promote the extremes because we click/watch/read/respond to it
Which makes them more money
Only a collective change in our behaviour can influence real change
We try to look at others to blame for the breakdown of democracy
The problem is us