Pivot Land of the Giants: The Facebook Election
Sep 6, 2022
Explore how Facebook transitioned into a political powerhouse during the 2016 election, shaping voter engagement. Discover the dilemmas Mark Zuckerberg faced in balancing free speech with content moderation amidst Trump's campaign. Delve into the complexities of the Oversight Board’s review of Trump's ban, revealing the challenges of enforcing rules fairly. Witness the evolving ambitions of the Oversight Board as it grapples with algorithmic transparency, hinting at a new direction for social media's role in democracy.
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Zuckerberg's Reframing
- Mark Zuckerberg tried to recast Facebook's origin story around a loftier idea in a 2019 speech.
- He emphasized giving people a voice and decentralizing power, despite facing Congressional scrutiny.
The Facebook Election
- Katie Harbath, Facebook's first political strategist, aimed to make 2016 the "Facebook election".
- The Obama campaign's success with Facebook in 2012 fueled this ambition.
Trump's Muslim Ban Post
- Donald Trump's 2015 call to ban Muslims entering the US challenged Facebook's content policies.
- This sparked internal debate about removing the post, highlighting the platform's role in political speech.