I see the Internet getting blamed for this shit and i want to offer a counter-opinion: the tech is different but the problems we have now are the same as we’ve had before: deregulation and corruption.

The Internet is incredible. Even good ol’ r was just as great a tool for learning about other perspectives as it could be an echo chamber. I learned so much about other people just by joining their /r/ and lurking, because I’m the type of person who’s interested in people. The Internet gave me the power to do what i do normally with people but on a larger scale. Perhaps the best critisism of the Internet is also it’s greatest strength, to give more people more range to do what they were doing anyway, for good or ill.

I believe though that when we criticize the Internets current state we are looking at a symptom, not a cause. I believe what we’re looking at is actually the fallout from the media deregulation and consolidation following the telecommunications act of 1996.

Ever since that time the people have increasingly been getting their “news” first in the form of propaganda opinion pieces, otherwise known as otherwise known as VNRs. These press releases, written by increasingly larger, increasingly right-wing corps are designed to sway public opinion rather than inform, and they are very successful at their craft.

The underlying problem in my opinion is that people are exposed to these lies and vitriolic ideas first from these sources. Combine this with a dearth of credible news sources so even one with the critical thinking skills of sherlock would have a hard time finding objective truth?

Well here we are, flailing about in the dark. Some people, when searching for answers, find themselves in echo chambers filled with other people who came to the same conclusion. I don’t blame them. When there is no objective truth, where do you find yours?