Where Should We Have Important Conversations Online?
Civility in the Digital Age
Dear Friends,
It’s been another difficult week for the world, and if you are anything like me, ‘checking out’ of the news cycle seems like not only a good idea, but an emotional-health necessity. So thanks a bunch for sticking with me, and reading “Common Ground” this week. I know it takes a lot to stay, and keep showing up.
Before we get into things, I wanted to shout out to Linda who responded to last week’s newsletter with a kind note…
Linda from SF Bay Area, “It’s making me reflect on talking to people that I don’t want to talk to.”
Thank you Linda! Every thought, every action is a step in the right direction — and it sure keeps me going too. ❤️
Navigating Crucial Discussions in the Digital Age
This week I wanted to get into the topic of where should we have important conversations online. I am pretty sure you are giving me an eye roll right now! I know, I know… the choices and prospects are limited, and it’s all hardly appealing. And that’s why I’m keen to open the discussion.
“Common Ground” is still in its infancy, and one of the biggest challenges I’m personally facing in trying to get the word out there, is that no place online seems appropriate to have civil debate, and this is a massive part of the wider problem.
Not only because we have become such a polarized and over-politicized society, but also because there really isn’t a place online to discuss key issues.
The Current Landscape
When I started my career in the mid-nineties the potential of the internet was being hailed as the great equalizer. It promised to breakdown barriers, bring us closer together, and democratize access to information. Today, that’s in part true. The internet is our primary platform for communication, information exchange, and public discourse. However, in recent years our online conversations have fragmented and are now characterized by increasingly disturbing trends such as...
In order to keep us on their sites longer, social media companies’ algorithms prioritize content that they think we want to see more of, but at the same time narrow exposure, and work to reinforce our existing beliefs. The upside, more cat videos, the downside, echo chambers where diverse perspectives and content are rarely seen. I’ve personally followed a bunch of politically diverse public figures online, but, algorithms continue to show me figures “it” assumes I want to hear from.
Further, and we’ve all seen it, the anonymity and distance provided by the internet can embolden people to engage in uncivil or abusive behavior. That’s a big reason why folks like you and me do not post our civil discourse opinions, or ask other’s for theirs. The risk of abuse, trolling, doxing and worse is a real and present danger.
Moreover, the rapid spread of misinformation and fake news has eroded trust in online sources, and further divided communities. What is also alarming is that this level of mistrust and polarization has also spilled over into offline interactions, contributing to a more divided society overall.
The Need for Change
To address these far-reaching challenges, it’s going to take all of us actively working together to create a more inclusive, respectful, and truth-oriented online environment.
As individuals, we can commit to engaging in respectful dialogue online, seeking out diverse perspectives, and fact-checking information before sharing. As ever with civil discourse, solutions are going to be multi-faceted and require long term commitments. The two big areas I continually hear spoken about when it comes to solutions are:
Platform Responsibility
Social media and other online platforms have a critical role to play in fostering healthier discourse. There is a slew of actions here which companies should be prioritizing. Such as:
Developing algorithms that expose users to a wider range of viewpoints, and reduce the spread of misinformation.
Investing in effective content moderation and providing tools for users to report abusive behavior.
Establishing clear guidelines and norms for constructive engagement, and ensuring standards are upheld.
Being transparent around content policies and enforcement which is crucial for building trust and accountability.
The Role of Education
Improving online discourse also requires a long-term investment in digital literacy education. From a young age, kids need to learn how to critically evaluate online sources, engage in respectful dialogue, and navigate the complexities of online life.
When I worked at Mozilla many years ago, we were pioneers of digital literacy, we called it ‘Web Literacy”. They still have an excellent curriculum on knowing how “… to read, write, and participate online”, which is well worth reviewing for yourself and sharing with others.
Across the board our education, and community organizations can play a key role in providing digital skill building, and promoting a culture of constructive engagement.
In the wake of AI's meteoric rise this will become even more important, and require faster attention. However, that being said, with AI also comes the hope of technology helping us better understand and navigate the complexity of the online world. More on that and how AI is helping civil discourse next week!
“Meet in the Middle”
In time, I sincerely hope there will be more dedicated spaces that encourage thoughtful, and respectful exchanges on the issues that matter most. But for now, in order to reach more people and get more of us caring about civil discourse and civil engagement, we are going to need to work with the tools we have available. Plus, bringing a resolve to continue online conversations even though the systems aren’t perfect
This week I’d love to get your quick, yet important feedback. Audience participation! Simply select your answer in this brief poll on which social network you think is currently the best place to raise the questions of civil discourse. Note, I am not talking necessarily about politics here, which are often not even allowed on these sites. Rather, a place to engage in constructive discussions about creating a better society.
It might seem like a small and insignificant thing, but learning what you think about these platforms is deeply informative.
The social media landscape is of course much wider, I’ve pulled out the most popular ones today (minus TikTok). Please feel free to email me one to one at jane@finette.com with more comments and ideas, or share your thoughts and participate in some online discourse (!) in the Substack comments. I’d love to be in touch.
The fractured state of online discourse poses significant challenges, but it also presents an opportunity for growth and change. What I’m learning from my work so far in reviving ciivil discourse is that so much of what’s needed is actually the quiet resolve to carry on regardless. I desperately want to dub the passionate Steve Balmer, former CEO at Microsoft here, and say “Reengage! Reengage! Reengage!” Stick with me, we can do this!
Remember - there's always more that unites us than divides us.
Let's find common ground together,
Jane