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Internet + Discourse: Is social media destroying our ability to say ‘I Disagree’?
Every few weeks, when America finds itself nearly imploding because of a matter that harbors no less than a dozen different sides, media outlets make it a point to vocalize how divided we are as a nation. But this country has and always will be divided. Has been since the moment its shores were stolen and colonized. It’s nothing new.
There is a multitude of issues plaguing this country. So many that we’re practically drowning in them at this point. And thus, it’s natural for opinions to be rampant and divisive in the face of them. But it’s part of the thing that (apparently) makes this country so “great.” Freedom of speech. Being free to have an opinion and say what you believe without being persecuted for it. Legally, that is.
And, of course, this freedom extends to social media. Social media, a boundless and bottomless pit rife with clashing opinions. As intimidating and draining as social media can be, the fact that it is a place with an abundance of information, content, and perspectives is also what makes it so inviting and engaging.
