Social networks: serving citizens and institutions

Social networks, tools of public utility? With millions of connected users, social networks can serve many causes: whistleblowers, public health watch, and fighting against disinformation... One of the main levers? Content moderation. Passion Media comes back on the subject.

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Revelation of ecological scandals, denunciation of fake vaccines traffic, questioning of contents considered as “disinformation”… Social networks have a great asset: the volume of users. Better than anyone else, with the right tools at their disposal, they can contribute to guaranteeing public health or even security policies. A kind of civic act or new generation activism. Passion Media comes back with you on this trend, which has notably emerged with political campaigns and with the stormy subject of the vaccine and the health pass. 

Social networks to fight misinformation

Digital platforms are often pointed out for their lack of action regarding misinformation. Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Instagram… Yet, they are starting to take action. Some have the means to hire armies of moderators, to filter potentially embarrassing content themselves. Others are trying to set up tools, based on the power of their user community. This is the case on Twitter. 

A new moderation tool tested by Twitter

The Twitter platform is currently testing, in the United States, Korea and Australia, a tool that allows users to report content deemed misinformation. How can they do this? They just have to click on the “report” button, then choose the category (health, politics, etc…). After 5 reports, the Twitter account is analyzed by the team and can be banned. 

The moderation of social networks impacts the speech of politicians

Misinformation does not only concern amateur profiles. It can also come from the media, experts, politicians, influencers, stars, etc… And on this point, the platforms have not hesitated to apply their content moderation policy to the letter. This is what happened with the account of the former American president Donald Trump with reports of incitement to violence and hatred. His Facebook and Twitter accounts were then banned. A news that had been widely taken up and commented by the press and Internet users.

Social networks, alerting for public health 

The COVID has led to the arrival of the vaccine (mandatory in many countries) and the health pass. Some citizens are mobilizing against this policy, claiming freedom and choice issues. Whatever the opinion, this movement has also seen the emergence of the Covid-19 fake vaccine certificates. And it is a topic that is trending on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. 

The flourishing business of fake vaccines on social networks

Yes, there is a business for everything. And the vaccine is no exception to the rule. On social networks, mainly Twitter and Instagram, many people offer to sell you a fake vaccination certificate (aka health pass). And this can be very profitable. In the United States, an Internet user hiding behind the name @AntiVaxMomma would have sold more than 250 certificates via Instagram, for about 200 dollars each. 

Internet users denounce the trafficking of fake vaccines

The famous @AntiVaxMomma has just been arrested by the New York State Attorney, along with about 15 other people. Major repercussions are expected, both for the people behind the sale but also for those who purchased her services. And revelations like these are happening more and more. They come from the media, but also very often from direct reports from Internet users. A form of commitment of the citizens to guarantee the public health, a form of denunciation also.