I had never investigated the Blue Check program until moments ago. It is used to further our neo-feudalism of elite versus the plebians, ensuring that we know our place. Only the truly elite are supposed to get Blue Check marks. Blue Checks are a mark of techno-nobility.
Two appalling bad studies were widely shared by “experts” on social media. One was so bad, and its errors so obvious, that they only way they could have decided to share was to do so without having read even the abstract of the study.
A former US Surgeon General asserts the “appeal to authority” argument form – where neither facts nor logic supported his position. Instead, he came across as arrogant and dismissive of those lacking the qualifications to question his errant comments – even though he was wrong. This attitude has become common during the Covid era and has led to “the suicide of expertise” – that is, the loss of trust in experts and even Science itself.
Scientific American reports on how government agencies use “media embargoes” to control reporting.
Youtube will promote videos on some subjects based on the “Authority” of those producing the video. Youtube has not defined what “authoritative” means – it may mean that Youtube will gradually give more focus to views produced by those with many initials after their name, as a proxy for “authoritative”. What could go wrong?
Member of Facebook’s Content Moderation Board says free speech is not an absolute human right.
Facebook, Twitter and Google outrageously censored scientists and doctors for asking questions about challenging issues in the pandemic. Today, we are recognizing that these discussions were important – but silenced by the unethical billionaires of social media.
Link to an essay on the role that “technical authority”, media propaganda, and how “consensus of experts” are used to influence the public and to exert control over us. This essay is an eye opener.
The Minneapolis Police Department issued a press release after George Floyd died that was basically a lie, and omitted numerous critical details of the encounter. They later deleted the press release, apparently acknowledging it was not a true statement. The bogus press release is an example of pre-emptive propaganda, typical after police shootings – they release all the dirt they can find on the suspect, and then release a list of commendations and medals of the officers involved. In the case of George Floyd, the MPD left out crucial details – and this would have been all we knew if there had not been an independent video.
The controversy over hostile social media content advocating violence, hate, and lies on social media – and the deplatforming of individuals and entire services (e.g. Parler).
Was Parler deplatformed for “conservative” ideas or for users advocating violence?