I do not understand, “it’s hard to get around the first amendment.” Most of the internet as we now it is accessed by an address in the browser. Most of what we see are businesses or social platforms. Social platforms aren’t free in the sense that people are making money. Business is regulated all the time. Stay civil within the regulations or forfeit your access to the internet. Just as fcc can and does regulate the airwaves. To say there is no regulation is wrong but we need a lot more. Examples we now have, Amazon can’t sell prescription drugs without a prescription. Etsy has regulations about what you can sell on their platform. They object to things that are not illegal erring on the side of caution about animal parts. It’s their business they make the rules and vendors comply or by by. Speech could be regulated too. It’s currently illegal most places to say “I’ll kill you”, it’s a threat. The internet should be subjected to these rules and more. Just another idea, we labeled cigarettes as carcinogenic and kept selling them. People stopped smoking as they had to see that while betta a cig. Eventually with several other suggestive prompts people quit. Warning could be forced on sites to tell of bad language, hate ideas and more.
Wonderful and insightful commentary, many thanks.
The internet needs to be regulated. It can be and I can’t imagine where it’s continued non regulation might bring us next. Terrific article.
But what regulations? It’s hard to get around the first amendment, and do we want to?
I do not understand, “it’s hard to get around the first amendment.” Most of the internet as we now it is accessed by an address in the browser. Most of what we see are businesses or social platforms. Social platforms aren’t free in the sense that people are making money. Business is regulated all the time. Stay civil within the regulations or forfeit your access to the internet. Just as fcc can and does regulate the airwaves. To say there is no regulation is wrong but we need a lot more. Examples we now have, Amazon can’t sell prescription drugs without a prescription. Etsy has regulations about what you can sell on their platform. They object to things that are not illegal erring on the side of caution about animal parts. It’s their business they make the rules and vendors comply or by by. Speech could be regulated too. It’s currently illegal most places to say “I’ll kill you”, it’s a threat. The internet should be subjected to these rules and more. Just another idea, we labeled cigarettes as carcinogenic and kept selling them. People stopped smoking as they had to see that while betta a cig. Eventually with several other suggestive prompts people quit. Warning could be forced on sites to tell of bad language, hate ideas and more.
Yes, you’re right
We can clean it up and make life better. Thanks so much, Maggie.
Excellent commentary. 👍👍