Social Media Makes America 'Meaner,' Pai Says
Social media helped to make America meaner and coarser, said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai at The Media Institute Wednesday, saying Americans need to decide if social media is a net benefit to the country. “I don’t have an answer,” said Pai, conceding his use of social media also helped to make him a better public servant: "This unprecedented medium for collaboration and connecting people feels like it’s dividing us.”
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Pai’s questioning of the value of social media came days after he complained net neutrality protesters targeted his home and family, and after many condemned a flood of racially tinged Twitter posts attacking him over his draft repeal of net neutrality rules (see 1711270042). As Pai spoke, Department of Homeland Security guard stood by the door. He mentioned other incidents, such as a political Facebook post that included rude comments about his wife, and recent comments from an Indian-American comedian that Pai should leave his pigment at the door. “Sounds racist to me,” Pai said. According to data gathered by Communications Daily, officials in Pai’s office use social media to slam news reports critical of Pai more than officials at other government agencies (see 1711170009). The FCC didn’t comment.
"We condemn any racist attacks on Chairman Pai, full stop," said Free Press Policy Director Matt Wood in an interview. "We can’t stop them because we are not making them. Racism is not confined to one ideology or party, unfortunately. Even more unfortunately, it is the president who appointed Pai who’s done the most to mainstream hate and overt racism in politics and media." The Internet Association didn't comment on Pai's speech.
Social media has led to politics seeping into nearly every topic, Pai said, citing reports on politics affecting dating and on musician Taylor Swift’s lack of a political stance. That’s “terrible for our country,” Pai said. “There once seemed to be an understanding in America that those issues were third-rails in casual conversation.” Social media and its accompanying anonymity also exacerbate coarser interactions between people, Pai said: “When you shake someone’s hand, when you look someone in the eye, when you actually hear his or her point of view directly, it’s just harder to be nasty.”
Pai also said social media helped him do his job better, acknowledging he was the first FCC commissioner to join Twitter. Social media posts led him to advocate for 911 direct dialing and helped him get his message out, Pai said. He praised the recent social media powered #MeToo movement against sexual harassment. “I hope our culture shines a bright light on disgusting conduct that for too long thrived in the shadows,” Pai said. A leader in that movement, TV celebrity Alyssa Milano, tweeted Wednesday that Pai’s response (see 1711280024) to her comments on net neutrality was a “misogynistic personal attack.” Also Wednesday, NBC fired Matt Laurer over sexual abuse allegations.
Pai said he doesn’t have “a magic solution" to digital discord. The agency is "working to make sure that every American is connected with high-speed Internet access. But while we’re becoming connected digitally, we can’t allow our nation of 326 million to become disconnected from each other,” Pai said. “We need to see our fellow citizens as real people with real strengths and frailties, not as abstract online avatars.”
Wednesday’s Media Institute luncheon was the last for its president, Patrick Maines, who is retiring. Pai thanked Maines for “able leadership.” The institute didn’t comment on a successor.