Education, Press, and Democracy

High-quality education and a free, open press were crucial for democracy's function in the country's founding. Education and newspapers, products of the printing press, enabled access to information for all, empowering individuals to understand the world and actively participate in government. The fourth estate, represented by journalism, provided the shared way for society to make sense of the world. Without these components, democracy falters. Social media platforms like Facebook are seen as not only undermining but opposing the concept of the fourth estate.