I had to laugh when I read the editorial, “Social media is mass-think.”
First of all, this grandma uses social media all the time, so it’s not just the younger generation. As a freelance indexer, I’ve gotten most of my work that way.
Second, if you’re concerned about mass-think, look in the mirror (pun intended). For a long time the media has had pretty much a monopoly on people’s thoughts. The mass media is bought and paid for by the people and corporations with money. Those without means have had little voice. Now, with social media, everyone is getting a voice. How do you think Egypt dumped its dictator?
If you think the mass media is checking for truth while social media is not, you’re dreaming. The media has been pawning off distortions and spin as truth for a long time. Many people who use social media do check out the facts they read there. (And yes, more should.) People need to think for themselves and check out the facts no matter where they get their information.
I especially found the editorial rich considering the one we got a couple of weeks ago about the difference between news articles and editorials, from an editor whose news articles tend to contain a fair bit of editorializing.
There’s something happening here, and you don’t know what it is, do you Mr. Jones.
Tia Leschke
Sooke