“Careless People,” the recent memoir by Meta’s former Global Public Policy Director, Sarah Wynn-Williams, has caused a furor. Not only did it share revelations that Meta prioritized growth and engagement over safety and democracy, but it also provided confirmation of what many critics have long argued—that Meta was not merely negligent but strategically indifferent to the harm its platforms enabled. The myth of “neutral platforms” has been thoroughly debunked. Research seems to highlight that the business model underpinning these platforms – surveillance-based advertising that maximizes engagement – fundamentally conflicts with human well-being and democratic values. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence is reshaping journalism itself – the very institution meant to hold these platforms accountable. 

How can we address the structural problems at the heart of today’s social media platforms rather than merely applying “fixes around the edges”? Join us for a conversation with Dr. Courtney Radsch, Director of the Center for Journalism and Liberty at the Open Markets Institute, a non-resident fellow at the Brookings Institution, and a senior fellow at the Center for Global Governance Innovation, for a conversation on how we should govern platforms that have become essential infrastructure for public discourse.

Hosted by: Alexa Raad and Leslie Daigle.

Further reading:

• Transcript: Senate Hearing on Social Media and Teen Mental Health with Former Facebook Engineer Arturo Bejar





• Misinformation on Facebook got six times more clicks than factual news sources





• Artificial Intelligence in the News How AI Retools, Rationalizes, and Reshapes Journalism and the Public Arena





• Courtney Radsch: Media Publications





• Cyberactivism and Citizen Journalism in Egypt: Digital Dissidence and Political Change





• Artificial Intelligence in the News: How AI Retools, Rationalizes, and Reshapes Journalism and the Public Arena” Columbia Journalism School

The views and opinions expressed in this program are our own and may not reflect the views or positions of our employers.