Should Social Media Platforms be held accountable?

In recent years, social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok have become a key part of how we communicate, share ideas, and consume information. However, these platforms have also been at the center of controversial problems, such as hate speech, cyberbullying, and the spreading of false information. One main question as these platforms grow is whether social media companies can be held responsible for the content posted on their websites.

Currently, in the United States, many social media platforms are protected by laws like Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects them from legal responsibility for the content posted by users. This was originally designed to encourage free speech and allow platforms to moderate content without fear of legal consequences. However, as the impact of social media has become more evident, people argue that this law has allowed platforms to avoid responsibility for harmful content, such as violence, spreading fake news, or enabling harassment.

One of the main issues with the current legal framework is the lack of accountability for platforms when harmful content goes viral. For instance, platforms have been criticised for their role in spreading misinformation during elections, especially at times where users have manipulated algorithms to amplify false narratives. Similarly, many have raised concerns about the regularity of cyberbullying and hate speech on social media platforms, which can cause real harm to individuals.

In response to these concerns, there has been growing pressure for legal reforms to hold social media platforms accountable. In the EU, the Digital Services Act aims to create stricter rules for online platforms, including requirements for greater transparency in how content is controlled and punished for platforms that fail to remove harmful material. In the U.S., there are ongoing discussions about whether Section 230 should be altered or annulled to make platforms more liable for harmful content.

However, holding platforms accountable is not a simple task. Social media companies argue that moderation is a complicated process, and regulating content on a global scale creates questions of freedom of expression, as well as what is considered acceptable content and at what point is it considered censorship.

As social media continues to be criticised and questioned, a balanced legal framework is a clear solution to minimise the harm spread. Although protecting free speech is an important part of many places around the world, social media companies are equally as responsible - if not more - as the users for the content spread on the internet, creating a safe environment while simultaneously having an area to openly express opinions.