Big Technology Podcast Should Facebook and Twitter Have Banned Donald Trump? A Conversation With Ryan Mac of BuzzFeed News
Jan 13, 2021
Ryan Mac, a senior reporter at BuzzFeed News with deep insight into Facebook's inner workings, joins the conversation following the suspension of Donald Trump’s accounts on social media. They delve into the motivations behind these platforms' drastic actions and the pressures influencing their decisions. Ethical dilemmas in tech journalism are discussed, alongside the challenges of content moderation. Mac also highlights the implications of these bans on public discourse and the evolving landscape of social media governance amid growing scrutiny over Facebook's practices.
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The Salmon Incident
- Ryan Mac was known for microwaving salmon in the BuzzFeed office.
- He jokingly defends his actions, citing food waste and claiming the smell wasn't bad.
Inside Facebook
- Ryan Mac gains insights into Facebook's internal communications by monitoring Workplace, its internal social network.
- He often sees discussions about his own reporting activities, sometimes in real-time.
Balancing Transparency
- Ryan Mac prioritizes public interest when deciding what internal Facebook information to share.
- He acknowledges the tension between transparency and maintaining trust within the company.