Why Regulating Content at Scale Makes Zero Sense

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Image Source: Unsplash

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Content is the new king. The rise of social media has made us a society obsessed with opinions and the content that sparks them. In this environment, companies like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat have thrived while traditional publishers struggle to adapt. However, content regulation has become a hot-button issue in recent months as these platforms grow in popularity. From hate speech to fake news, there are valid concerns about the kind of content we consume on social media networks. But does that mean regulating content at scale makes zero sense? Let’s take a look at why regulating content at scale makes zero sense and why it’s probably a good thing.

Content regulation makes zero sense

There are many reasons why content regulation makes zero sense. For one thing, social media is still a free-market platform. Companies like Facebook and Instagram are not traditional publishers. They don’t have the editorial or monetary control that other publishing platforms like newspapers, magazines, or TV networks have. Because of this, they can’t or shouldn’t be expected to make the same editorial decisions traditional publishers make. While these platforms are doing a great job of dealing with the issues they’ve identified, like fake news or hate speech, these are problems that are best left to the market to solve. If consumers don’t want to see fake news or hate speech, they can vote with their time and money by moving away from those platforms.

It’ll also make things worse

On a more macro level, regulating content at scale would make things much worse than they already are. For example, China’s recent attempts to regulate content have resulted in the government blocking 30 million internet posts per year. This has resulted in blocking many major platforms, including Facebook. While this might sound like a good thing, the fact is that it actually has little to no effect on the major issues people bring up when talking about regulating content. For one thing, China doesn’t really care about fake news or hate speech. Instead, they are using this as a way to control the flow of information. This is why many in the media industry are legitimately concerned about what will happen if we move towards regulating content at scale.

Facebook and Google are already working on content regulation

Facebook has already started working on content regulation by launching a new initiative on how to handle misinformation on their platform. By working with third-party fact-checking organizations like Snopes, they’re hoping to make accurate information more visible on the platform while cutting down on misinformation. Google has also made it a focus to take on fake news by making it harder for low-quality news sites to rank well in organic search. If you’ve been paying attention to the news, you’ve probably noticed that many of these sites are actually InfoWars. While InfoWars will likely always be around, it shouldn’t be ranking at the top of Google searches.

Why HapPhi will not regulate content

While we can debate the merits of regulating content at scale, we also believe that it’s very unlikely to happen. This is especially true when you consider that it’s incredibly difficult to regulate the content on social media when it’s being generated by billions of people across the globe. What’s more, the major companies behind social media have already taken steps towards regulating content. Facebook, for example, has a robust content moderation team. While we have no doubt that these teams will continue to improve, there’s no need for government intervention. HapPhi is a free speech platform.

Conclusion

While there are many valid concerns about the kind of content we consume online, there are real reasons why regulating content at scale makes zero sense. For one thing, social media is still a free-market platform. It’ll also make things worse on a macro level. Facebook and Google are already working on content regulation. There’s no need for government intervention. It’s very unlikely to happen. In this environment, companies like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat have thrived while traditional publishers struggle to adapt.

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