We created an online dystopia

Filter bubbles, uncivil behaviour and online egoism contribute to the poor state of the internet, writes

against ‘‘fake news’’. But so much more could be done to improve the quality of content we’re exposed to on social media, using tools like machine learning and techniques like topic mapping.

Another way we can move out of the dystopian web is to implement rules for civil discourse. Stuff wisely decided to moderate comments on articles such as this one. In an ideal world, that shouldn’t be necessary. But it’s the only way to keep comments on topic and civil.

When I first began blogging back in 2003, comments were a key part of that community. Since then, trolls have forced many sites to close down their comments sections.

Perhaps our biggest challenge is to find a way to stop the rampant egoism that social media like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat encourage.

You can see the effects on the latest generation, those born between 1995 and 2012. They’re sometimes called ‘‘iGen’’ because this is the first generation to be born into the Networked Age. The pressures of growing up in an era defined by likes and follows is unique to them. And it’s making kids depressed.

Jean MTwenge, a professor of psychology at San Diego State University in the US, claimed that social media levies ‘‘a psychic tax’’ on teens. They have a fear of being left out and crave affirmation in the form of likes.

One young girl quoted in the story said about Instagram: ‘‘I’m nervous about what people think and are going to say. It sometimes bugs me when I don’t get a certain amount of likes on a picture.’’

All of these issues – filter bubbles, uncivil behaviour, online egoism – contribute to the poor state of discourse in 2017.

With that said, I’m still a believer that technology can help solve these problems. We have the tools, we just need to use them better.