Opinion on Big Data
As Pariser (2011) points out, the web has become increasingly personalized and we are unlikely to see many different perspectives as a result. For that reason, social media platforms have become increasingly important in the political sphere in recent years. They offer a unique way to reach out to voters and gain insights into public opinion. However, they also present a new challenge in terms of safeguarding against manipulation.
For example, political analysts can use big data analytics to target individuals with tailored information and advertisements. This can have the effect of skewing public opinion in undesirable ways. And thus the question then arises: who should be responsible for ensuring that these activities don't succeed?
One possible answer is that the government should act to regulate social media platforms (Balkin, 2021). By regulating social media platforms, the government can help to ensure that these platforms are used for positive purposes. For example, the government could require social media companies to take action against hate speech and fake news. In addition, the government could create guidelines for how social media platforms should handle user data.
Another potential solution is that it should be the responsibility of the platforms themselves to take measures to prevent manipulation. Platforms have a financial incentive to prevent manipulation, as it can damage their reputation and lead to users deserting the platform. However, it could also be argued that it is the responsibility of political parties or individual citizens to ensure that they are not being unduly influenced by these activities. Ultimately, the decision of who should be responsible for preventing manipulation via social media is a complex one that requires careful consideration.
References
Balkin, J. M. (2021). How to regulate (and not regulate) social media.J. Free Speech
L.,1, 71.
Pariser, E. (2011).The filter bubble: How the new personalized web is changing what we
read and how we think. Penguin.
