Tech reporter Will Oremus discusses the declining usefulness of social media as a source of news during natural disasters, focusing on the example of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. He explores the challenges of misinformation and hoaxes, as well as the changing responsibilities of big tech companies. The episode also highlights the potential benefits of the news industry distancing itself from social media platforms.
Social media platforms have deprioritized news and reduced the reliability of news on their platforms.
The shift towards social media as a primary news source has created a disconnect between news organizations and their audience, impacting the news industry's business models.
Deep dives
The Role of Social Media in Disasters
Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook have become important sources of real-time news and information during natural disasters. People turn to social media to get the latest updates, view pictures, and read news reports. Public agencies also utilize social media to communicate with the public and tailor their response accordingly. However, social media's role in disasters is a double-edged sword, as it can also lead to the spread of rumors and misinformation. Despite the drawbacks, social media remains a vital tool in disaster communication and information dissemination.
The Changing Landscape of Social Media and News
Social media companies like Facebook and Twitter have shifted their focus away from news. Facebook has deprioritized news sources in users' feeds, prioritizing personal posts instead. In Canada, Facebook has even banned news links in response to a law requiring payment to publishers. Twitter, under new leadership, disbanded its curation team and has pulled back on fact-checking and policing misinformation. This change in approach from social media companies has resulted in a decline in the reliability of news on these platforms.
Implications for News Organizations
The relationship between news organizations and social media has had a significant impact on the news industry. News organizations have had to invest resources in reaching audiences through social media, shaping their coverage to fit the platform's entertainment-focused nature. With social media companies pulling back from news, news organizations are left grappling with how to reach audiences directly and recapture the relationship previously held with readers and listeners. The shift towards social media as a primary news source has resulted in a disconnect between the business models of news organizations and the demand for free, instantaneous information from social media platforms.
It wasn’t long ago when social media was a place to go for up-to-the-minute updates in an emergency. But even as internet access is more widespread than ever—and natural disasters more frequent—Twitter and Facebook are less useful than ever. As hubs for news, that era appears over.
Guest: Will Oremus, tech reporter for the Washington Post.
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