Notations From the Social Grid (Weekly Edition): @BarackObama Speaks @Stanford

 

On Thursday, I traveled to Stanford University to talk about disinformation and the role we can all play in combating threats against democracy.

I’m convinced that one of the biggest reasons we’ve seen democracy increasingly under attack, in the United States and globally, is changes in how we communicate and consume information. The same technologies that make it possible to connect with nearly anyone in the world in real-time are increasingly being used to create alternate realities that fan the flames of ethnic violence, promote authoritarianism, and spread conspiracy theories. The result has been a gradual erosion of trust in the public officials, media organizations, and political institutions that are necessary for democracy to function. Disinformation is nothing new. Inflammatory rhetoric that contributes to divisions in our society did not start with tech or media companies. And some of what we’re seeing now is an inevitable consequence of new technology. But it’s also the result of very specific choices made by the companies that have come to dominate the internet generally and social media platforms in particular–decisions that, intentionally or not, have made democracies more vulnerable.   Despite these challenges, what keeps me hopeful is the new generation of activists that have already recognized the problem and are doing their part to fix it. Leaders like Obama Foundation Fellow Tiana Epps-Johnson, who started an organization to make election administration more safe and secure. Or Obama Foundation Leader Timothy Franklyn, who founded the National School of Journalism and Public Discourse in India to train journalists who are committed to justice and democracy.  I hope you’ll take a few minutes to learn more about their work and how the Obama Foundation is supporting other leaders like them around the world. Progress won’t be easy. But it’s an opportunity for all of us to do what America has always done at our best—to recognize when the status quo isn’t working, and build something better together.  I hope you agree, and look forward to working together to make that a reality.  – Barack