Both Facebook and Google have found the evidence of Russia-funded ad spread in the internet. As Facebook announced, lots of accounts that are related Russia spent totally of 100,000 on campaign ads. Google says it founds evidence as well, that Russian operatives spends thousands of dollars on politically divisive advertisements. According to Will Oremus, it’s a big deal. However, from my view, I agree with that it’s significant because it violates the election law and affect the election, but it does not violates the constitution which guarantees the freedom of speech. Since the content of these ads are unrevealed, but it’s described as “amplification of “divisive messages” on issues such as immigration, race and gay rights”. From my perspective, people who wants to persuade others would use amplification as a tool. It is a common strategy to enhance candidate’s support from people. If Russia is not behind these ads, and these ads are posted by American companies, I don’t think these amplifications would cause lots of attention after the election. The States has two parties which lead to different ideas and opinions on different issue. It is the foundation of this country, so what is the problem that people have opposite perspectives on a certain issue.
The trouble from these ads, I personally think is mostly from “fake or discredited content from phony social media accounts posing as US or European citizens”. In the beginning of the school year, we learned the idea of filter bubble. Here, I think these fake news appears another sort of bubble on the internet. People have to learn the ability to distinguish right and wrong, since the information posted online are always mixed with true and false messages. People should not judge the truth of an information base on personal preference. Meanwhile, we need companies to set up regulations on the credibility of information online.
Image source: http://wvik.org/post/davenport-library-host-rise-fake-news#stream/0
21st Century Citizenship 