Honestly I’m not even talking about the effects on democracy. Just the direct effects of attacks on people and threats against them are horrible enough. Stuff that’s been going on for YEARS. Basic safety.
I’m not trying to touch the more complex and problematic issues of how social media is changing democracy in my comments here. I don’t know how we’re ever supposed to get a handle on that if we can’t even keep people vaguely safe.
I'm much more concerned with direct physical attacks in real life than remote harassment - I was bikejacked and had my motorcycle taken from me, pulled to the ground and kicked in the head a few months ago in London - and I think societal breakdown and inequality is what ultimately created the level of alienation that made that kind of attack ok for its perpetrators.
I’m not trying to touch the more complex and problematic issues of how social media is changing democracy in my comments here. I don’t know how we’re ever supposed to get a handle on that if we can’t even keep people vaguely safe.