I would like to believe you but I’m sceptical.
The growing wave of populism and poor levels of critical literacy in major English speaking nations, at least, give me no reason to believe that the majority of FB users will see what you do in relation to Facebook.
I can’t see it, given the increasing support for neo-liberalist ideology, ethical values taking a back-seat to profit and the indoctrination of the mass of the population by narrow and right-wing media ownership, as well as its dumbing-down on a feast of crass & puerile ‘reality’ (not) television shows, appallingly poor remuneration or training of teachers, an outdated educational system and the glorification of sport, fame & wealth, almost to the point that they have become elements of the new religion.
Do you *really* believe that enough FB users will delete their accounts such that the platform become non viable? Surely that is wishful thinking, isn’t it?
I suppose that what thinking about this and the couple of comments I’ve received about the issue has brought me to is that the issue is actually a symptom of the erosion of ethical and moral values and sound communal caring and sharing throughout society.
On the one hand, the digital revolution has improved access to the speed & cost of communication both locally and across long distances. It has certainly made possible much greater understanding and collaboration among the various nations of the World. There is no denying that these and some other benefits are to be applauded.
On the other hand, particularly through the social media platforms, it has given an opportunity for massive dis and mis information to reach wide audiences and for those with fraud, deceit or malignance as their aim to exercise their cowardice from great distance and with substantial degrees of anonymity.
All of which, of course, brings me back to my original question. Should I delete my account, that I use for positive influence, and hope that others do the same and we leave the platform to operate almost totally for and by those who have nefarious, unethical, immoral or purely selfish ends or do I continue to post there in a positive way with the aim of countering those negative influences even if only by giving solace or support to those who are targeted by acrimony and meanness?
