Lawmakers hear testimony from a U of I professor about social media disinformation

Posted on September 28, 2021
social media
U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-Downers Grove) recalls an appearance a few years ago by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The power of social media can take the “shout fire in a movie theatre” cliche and send it worldwide in an instant.

“We know what types of people are susceptible to consuming misinformation,” University of Illinois sociology professor Kevin Leicht told a congressional hearing Tuesday. “We also know that combating misinformation is harder, the more misinformation is repeated; so it becomes harder and harder to stop.”

Illinois U.S. Reps. Bill Foster (D-Naperville) and Sean Casten (D-Downers Grove) were part of the committee.

Foster says misinformation causes damage to the extent of ethnic cleansing and, closer to home, the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Leicht, the professor, said it’s hard to tell whether Facebook employees knew in advance of the attack and did not tell anyone, or if they simply were not paying attention.

Casten recalled being dissatisfied when Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg would not commit to him a few years ago that his platform would take down, for example, model Jenny McCarthy’s posts about vaccines.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…