Social Media companies have no real incentive to reduce the vitriol that fills their servers. The fact is that content that makes people angry is what drives engagement… and engagement means advertising revenue. It also makes a profitable hunting ground for cybercriminals. But that might not be the case over the next few years. Joe Basques and Lou Covey sit down to consider the sea change that is coming for social content. They look at the social media companies claim they are nothing more than telecommunication companies and court cases that may change how libel laws are applied.
This conversation happened before the New York judge dismissed Sara Palin’s libel suit against the New York Times, but in his dismissal, he set up an appeal that could go to the Supreme Court, exactly what Lou and Joe are predicting.
Bile sells…at least for now, but not for long
