Obama's right: Social media has damaged our democracy

It’s time to burst social media bubbles before they swallow democracy whole.

In his presidential farewell address Tuesday night, Barack Obama—the first president of the social media era—offered one of the most succinct criticisms ever heard on a mass scale of our social media-obsessed culture, and its effect on democracy: 

The president added that the ability to channel media for every taste is playing right into the rise of partisanship. And without ever uttering the words “fake news,” Obama tied this isolationist social media bent to the steady rise of fake news. 

What Obama said about neighborhoods, college campuses and places of worship is true. In fact, it’s always been true. Read more...