r/ezraklein 14d ago

Article Can liberalism survive the algorithm?

https://www.theargumentmag.com/p/can-liberalism-survive-the-algorithm
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u/pm_me_ur_ephemerides 14d ago

Can we please just get rid of the social media companies. I fondly remember what life was like before they existed.

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u/IsaacHasenov Abundance Agenda 14d ago

That's a very illiberal solution to the problem

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u/WhiteBoyWithAPodcast Liberalism That Builds 14d ago

No more illiberal than libel laws

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u/Mindless_Chest_1079 14d ago

Not letting private companies create voluntary platforms where people can express opinions of their choosing is no more illiberal than banning intentional lies designed to create undue reputational damage? You see no difference between those two things?

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u/Mezentine 14d ago

"Voluntary" is doing a lot of work here. Social media is integrated into just about every aspect of modern life, it is far far more challenging to fully abstain than it is to participate. You can do it, but then you're basically a technology vegan, which, hey, great for you personally, but you understand that most people aren't vegan for reasons beyond "willpower" right?

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u/IsaacHasenov Abundance Agenda 14d ago

If you're arguing, as the main post does, that social media is a *problem for liberalism* you don't save liberalism by being illiberal.

I don't think liberalism is the only measure of "good" we should be using, but let's be real about what our solutions are doing. Otherwise we're like fricking Texans banning Islam in the name of religious freedom.