Interesting opening discussion from Science Magazine on the growing debate over the value of social media. To what degree are they good or evil? I recall how Tim Berners-Lee looked forward to a WWW that allowed for greatly enhanced sharing between colleagues and saw it disappointingly turned into a crass commercialized system where valuable information was drowned out by the slight, largely white noise. Two examples:
GOOD
Social media is a force for good. It levels the playing field (you don’t need to be a senior scientist to spread the message); you can reach a broad audience quickly and effectively; and it’s free to everyone (the writer and the readers).
- Prosanta Chakrabarty
EVIL
A growing number of self-appointed experts peddling misinformation drown out the voices of true scientists, who argue with facts, not opinions.
- Mpho Diphago Stanley Lekgoathi
At www.science.org
