What Twitter and Facebook Can Learn From Alexander Hamilton
You can’t pop a filter bubble with more information
It’s been said that the solution to misinformation is simply more information. It’s the cornerstone of the argument for the type of virtually unrestricted free speech we enjoy in the U.S.
The argument is that you address misinformation by providing facts that directly speak to the misinformation (or as so many like to call it today, “fake news”). And sometimes this approach works.
The Federalist Papers were written in 1787 and 1788 not only to help sell the American people on the benefits of the newly proposed U.S. Constitution, but to also correct the voluminous misinformation campaign waged against the document by its opponents. History shows us that this effort was successful—at least in its primary goal — the Constitution was ultimately ratified on June 21, 1788. It’s less clear whether people who were already radicalized against the Constitution had their minds changed by the Federalist Papers.
In contemporary times, the internet has done wonders to help people understand the reality of mental illness. It has corrected misinformation and helped stop the spread of discrimination and prejudice associated with these conditions. Because of the internet, people now know more facts…
