Greg's Corner

Obama: Facebook causes different realities for Americans

Late last week, former President Barack Obama gave a speech at MIT’s Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. During that speech President Obama called on companies like Google and Facebook to recognize that they’re more than just companies but are also platforms that could be used for the public good. Instead, they’ve divided us as a country and have created different realities for Americans.

President Obama goes on to say that it’s not differing opinions that are causing the problem but that facts are being misrepresented. He adds that with the distortion of the actual facts, it makes it “difficult to figure out how democracy works over the long term.” The problem is that companies like Facebook really aren’t in the public’s interest since they’re more concerned about their bottom line rather than furthering any cause for democracy.

You see, Facebook is what’s known as a walled garden. They want you to remain on Facebook as long as possible without venturing to the outside internet, If anything, Facebook probably wants you to continue to surround yourself in your own confirmation biases so you’ll remain on their platform longer and longer. Whether or not any of those biases are correct in their assumptions is immaterial to Facebook as long as you stay within the confines of their social network and keep clicking those ads. After all, the ads are tailored for your experience.