Twits on Twitter, Dis Coarse Discourse Dept. 0
At AL.com, Cameron Smith argues that Twitter is not the “public square.” A snippet:
We have far more control over our social media world than the real one. We follow what interests us, tell platforms that we’re not inclined toward certain topics, and we’re even able to block or mute individual voices. All the while Twitter’s algorithm observes our interaction with the platform and feeds us content that it expects we’ll want to see.
I’ve been to plenty of public spaces discussing the issues of the day. None of them function like that.
He may be right. Twitter may be more like Speaker’s Corner (where I once listened to a man rant passionately that toilet paper is the root of all evil) than Plato’s school.
Nevertheless, as long as persons, both on and off Twitter, act like it is a place of legitimate discourse, his point is moot.
We are a society that has sacrificed its soul for clicks and likes.
