Sometimes a Twitter thread is easier to read as a blog post.
The below was originally posted on Twitter.
1) Good thread by @yonatanzunger with a bunch of useful truths. Recap & comments from me below.
2) Speech can be used as a weapon against other speech: https://twitter.com/yonatanzunger/status/914609013722984448
https://twitter.com/yonatanzunger/status/914609721696559109
See also @superwuster arguing that the 1st Am is obsolete in an era of attention scarcity.
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Fight between Rioters and Militia, from Pen and Pencil Sketches of the Great Riots. Image in the Public Domain. |
3) People bear diff costs of bad speech & harassment, disadvantaged often most affected:
https://twitter.com/yonatanzunger/status/914609927729147904
https://twitter.com/yonatanzunger/status/914610451782156288
4) Understanding & combating speech that reduces engagement can further a speech maximizing policy goal:
https://twitter.com/yonatanzunger/status/914611676497899520
https://twitter.com/yonatanzunger/status/914611742247809024
https://twitter.com/yonatanzunger/status/914612024126038016
5) Having + stating an “editorial voice,” gestures, public perception & examples also can be important:
https://twitter.com/yonatanzunger/status/914612173023744001
https://twitter.com/yonatanzunger/status/914611921038409729
https://twitter.com/yonatanzunger/status/914612262790402048
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The Frame, from Typographia. Image in the Public Domain. |
6) Also, he gives great pointers to smart folks in the online community field:
https://twitter.com/yonatanzunger/status/914609375523852288
https://twitter.com/yonatanzunger/status/914611296150188032
https://twitter.com/yonatanzunger/status/914611486881808384
And of course there are many more, incl: Heather Champ, @juniperdowns, Victoria Grand, Monika Bickert, Shantal Rands, Micah Schaffer, @delbius, @nicolewong, @zeynep, @zephoria, @StephenBalkam, @unburntwitch, @noUpside, @EthanZ, @jessamyn, @sarahjeong + many many more incl great non-US folk. And including the folks & orgs on the various advisory councils:
https://blog.twitter.com/official/en_us/a/2016/announcing-the-twitter-trust-safety-council.html
https://www.facebook.com/help/222332597793306/ (and others)
As @yonatanzunger says, this work is a team sport that advances with help from all around.
7) I have some Qs re his 47 USC §230 (CDA) points. I don't know a case of something like his “editorial voice” breaking immunity or otherwise causing a “huge legal risk.” Indeed that was the point of §230 originally. So, asking experts: @ericgoldman & @daphnehk what do you think?
8) Also, I don’t think “maximizing speech” is quite the right goal or that every service should have the same goal. I want something different when I go to Facebook v Twitter v YouTube.
Also, I want more than one good service whose arch + policies (and, sure, “editorial voice”) support an extremely wide diversity of views being able to flourish, be expressed well & be easy to find & interact with including from outside social circles. But your mileage may vary.
9) Naturally, I also disagree that Twitter folks (including me) “never took [these issues] seriously,” provided “bullshit” explanations, were naive, and chased traffic over good policy. Was there & think I'd know.
But, taking that sort of beating is kinda part of the job. And, maybe I’m too biased from working & learning these issues at platforms incl many at Google, Twitter & in govt w/ @POTUS44.
10) Anyhow, I’m very glad @yonatanzunger chose to post this thread to Twitter & I hope the suggestions part is read widely.
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Printing Press, from Typographia. Image in the Public Domain. |