Social media ‘corrosive’ Obama tells Harry
Prince’s radio show guest warns of ‘Balkanisation’ of society and says people need to get outside more
Barack Obama has warned that social media is corroding civil discourse and leading to people becoming “cocooned” by information that “enforces their biases”. In an interview with Prince Harry, his first since leaving office, Mr Obama spoke about the dangers social media can pose when used in a divisive way. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, which was being guest edited by the Prince, the former US president said that the internet was distorting the public’s understanding of complex issues.
BARACK OBAMA has warned that social media is corroding civil discourse and leading to people becoming “cocooned” by information that “enforces their biases”.
In an interview with Prince Harry, his first since leaving office, Mr Obama spoke about the dangers social media can pose when used in a divisive way.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, which was being guest edited by the Prince, the former president said that the internet was distorting the public’s understanding of complex issues.
Mr Obama said: “The question, I think, really has to do with, how do we harness this technology in a way that allows a multiplicity of voices, allows a diversity of views, but doesn’t lead to a Balkanisation of our society, but rather continues to promote ways of finding common ground?
“And, I’m not sure government can legislate that, but what I do believe is that all of us in leadership have to find ways in which we can recreate a common space on the internet. One of the dangers of the internet is that people can have entirely different realities. They can be just cocooned in information that reinforces their current biases.”
His comments will be seen as a thinly veiled rebuke at Donald Trump, his successor as president, who has been criticised for using Twitter to attack his opponents.
“I think social media is a really powerful tool for people of common interests to convene and get to know each other and connect but then it is important for them to get offline, meet in the pub,” Mr Obama said.
“Meet at a place of worship, meet in a neighbourhood and get to know each other because the truth is that on the internet everything is simplified and when you meet people face to face it turns out they are complicated.”
While social media can be a powerful tool for rallying communities, people should not believe that merely commenting on an issue on social media will bring about change, Mr Obama added. “It can be a powerful way to raise awareness but then you have to get on the ground and actually do something,” he said.
Looking back on the day he handed over power to Mr Trump, he said that his feeling of satisfaction was “mixed with all the work that was still undone”.
Prince Harry has forged a strong bond with the Obamas through his work with servicemen and his trips to America. He recently travelled to Chicago for the inaugural summit of the Obama Foundation. At this year’s Invictus Games, Mr Obama reportedly asked Prince Harry about his romance with Meghan Markle as they watched the wheelchair basketball.
The Prince also revealed on the radio programme that he and Mr Obama have begun discussing how they could potentially work together on a joint project to encourage youth leadership.