'There are ways to limit extreme ideas on the platform while still protecting free speech,' writes Jack Shafer for POLITICOMag
Some of the “problems” posed by firebrands like Jones and Farrakhan are of Facebook’s own making. One reason Jones composes such incendiary posts is that he knows they’ll be widely shared. Facebook loves sharing because the more sharing that goes on the more time users spend on the site and the more money Facebook makes. The downside of all this sharing is that even if you don’t follow Jones you can end up seeing one of his posts if one of your “friends” shares it.
The worst thing about Facebook’s ban is that runs counter to the long-running American tradition of trusting the public with knowledge, even knowledge that is potentially “dangerous,” to use the Facebook formulation. Even more disturbing, much of the media is buying it:
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Facebook bans Alex Jones, other extremist figuresFacebook Inc said on Thursday it was banning Alex Jones and other controversial ...
Read more »
Facebook bans Louis Farrakhan, Alex Jones for hate speechNEW: Facebook has banned Louis Farrakhan, Alex Jones and others from its main service and from Instagram, saying they violated the company's ban against hate and violence.
Read more »
Facebook bans Louis Farrakhan, Alex Jones for hate speechSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Facebook has banned Louis Farrakhan, Alex Jones and others from its main service and from Instagram, saying they violated the company's ban against hate and...
Read more »
Facebook Bans Louis Farrakhan, Alex Jones and Others as ‘Dangerous’Facebook banned an array of personalities whose views it deemed too inflammatory to be shared on its social network, including Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, far-right talk-show host Alex Jones and conservative Jewish activist Laura Loomer.
Read more »
Facebook Bans High-Profile Media Figures Alex Jones, Louis Farrakhan For Being 'Dangerous'Facebook has taken its most aggressive step to root out incendiary content by banning prominent controversial media figures including Alex Jones, Louis Farrakhan and Milo Yiannopoulos
Read more »
Facebook bans far-right leaders including Louis Farrakhan, Alex Jones, Milo Yiannopoulos for being “dangerous”The bans are a sign that the social network is more aggressively enforcing its hate speech policies under pressure from civil rights groups.
Read more »
Alex Jones was banned from Facebook, but an hour later he's still livestreaming about itFacebook says it banned Alex Jones and InfoWars but Jones is already back broadcasting on the social network.
Read more »