Tech gatekeepers and public trust in media

It’s striking to see that nine of the ten most valuable media brands today don’t actually create and broadcast their own content. Instead, platforms like Google, Instagram , Facebook, and TikTok are reaping massive rewards by facilitating user-generated content. While this model democratizes creativity, it also reveals a troubling paradox: these companies profit immensely from the hard work of everyday users while often neglecting their responsibilities as the gatekeepers of that content. Let’s face it: the internet can feel like a chaotic dumping ground for all sorts of material. As social media has thrived on engagement and virality, the key players have come to prioritize sensationalism over substance. The alarming rise of misinformation and harmful content is a testament to this reality. Just look at Instagram, which saw its value spike by 49% this year — there’s no denying that the content which captures attention isn’t always the most valuable or trustworthy. We’re living in a time where the loudest voices drown out the most meaningful ones. The digital ecosystem is flooded with content that is misleading or downright harmful, yet GIFT & Co. operate with little accountability. Governments have been slow to step in, leaving a gaping hole where regulation should be. How frequently have we observed Zuckerberg swapping his hoodie for a sharp suit and appearing in court to express remorse for Meta’s errors? So, what can we do about it? For starters, the tech giants need to step up their game when it comes to content moderation. Investing in advanced tools and strategies to identify harmful material before it spreads will make a significant difference. Moreover, platforms, schools, parents, and governments have to become more proactive in engaging in user education, promoting digital literacy, and responsible content creation. Imagine if the GIFTs of this world would form partnerships with schools to teach youngsters how to navigate this digital landscape wisely and responsibly? Finally, I’m convinced that we need a stronger regulatory framework. Laws that can be swiftly enforced if need be to ensure social media platforms take responsibility for the content they host. Just saying “I’m sorry” won’t cut it anymore. This isn’t just about holding them liable; it’s about fostering a healthier digital environment where quality can coexist with quantity. Social media must acknowledge its influential role in shaping culture and discourse, especially as the lines blur between creators and consumers. This is difficult, because the current model is so damn lucrative; but if the Googles, TikToks, and Facebooks of this world want to remain relevant and respected, they’ll need to evolve into responsible curators rather than mere aggregators. If anyone can make that shift, it’s the very platforms that have the power to change the narrative. #triangleforces #media #ugc #brands #socialmedia #google #facebook #tiktok #whatsapp #instagram #wechat #tencent

For election day, I wrote about trust in media, which apparently is at an all-time low (per Gallup). I was interested in exploring how AI might change the picture, for better of for worse. It's a big question. To answer it thoroughly, I reached out to several smart people working at the intersection of AI and media for their thoughts. Here's the TL;DR on where we landed: 📉 Media Trust at an All-Time Low: U.S. media trust has plummeted, exacerbated by the incentives skewed by tech platforms. Political bias is a key factor, amplified since the end of the Fairness Doctrine, the rise of partisan media and later social media. While AI offers tools to synthesize diverse perspectives, its effectiveness depends on the underlying data and model intentions. 📝 AI as a Summarization and Fact-Checking Tool: AI engines could help counter bias by summarizing diverse sources, potentially fostering transparency. AI summaries and fact-checking might rebuild trust by highlighting contradictions across sources. At the same time, AI's credibility is challenged by frequent hallucinations. If AI is going to improve trust, it will need careful governance and clear transparency. 🕴 Shift from Institutions to Individuals: Rising distrust in traditional institutions is driving audiences, especially younger ones, toward independent creators and platforms like Substack. AI might further this shift by enabling these creators to produce and distribute content widely, often seen as more “authentic” than institutional news. 🛜 The Social Media Effect: Tech platforms like Meta and Google have prioritized profit over accuracy, promoting divisive content and fueling mistrust. AI offers a chance for publishers to regain some control over content distribution, but only if tech platforms are held accountable for their role in distorting information. 🔮 Future of AI in Media: AI may end up enhancing media trust by changing the incentive structures of the business. If clicks are less important than being the most robust, definitive source for information (to be selected for an AI summary), that will ultimately be healthy for the profession, even if newsrooms end up being smaller overall. Check out today's newsletter for the full piece, and thanks to Jon Accarrino, Brian Morrissey, Jacob Donnelly, Robert Caulk, Ricky Sutton, and Nick Toso for contributing! #AImedia #contentstrategy #journalism

I spoke to MediaNama's Sakshi Sadashiv K about how social media platforms contribute to media capture. “Social media platforms, once heralded as tools for the democratization of news media, have instead become another form of media capture. These platforms have assumed the role of gatekeepers, not only determining what audiences see but also exerting control over news organizations through opaque algorithms and arbitrary policies. Their decision-making processes often lack transparency, and they are frequently accused of colluding with regulators, posing a significant threat to press freedom,” stated Kunal Majumder, Knight Wallace Journalism Fellow at the University of Michigan. Majumder has led the India operations of the Committee to Protect Journalists for six years. “…In India, the IT Rules have further entrenched this imbalance, making it nearly impossible for these platforms to challenge executive directives that mandate the censorship of news content,” stated Majumder. “Beyond direct censorship, these platforms wield other tools of control, such as demonetization, to financially strangle independent media. This process, too, operates without a clear or transparent redressal mechanism, leaving news organizations vulnerable to arbitrary decisions. As a result, the news media now finds itself more dependent than ever on the whims and fancies of Big Tech, further eroding press freedom and the ability of journalists to function independently,” he added. https://lnkd.in/dUaVSas3 #Journalism #PressFreedom #SocialMedia