Two stories caught my attention in the last few days.
First, Mylène Crête tells us that Meta is finally carrying out her threat. The American company will “temporarily” cut off access to news on Facebook and Instagram in protest against Bill C-18, which “aims to strengthen the fairness of economic relations between news companies and online communication platforms by strengthening the bargaining position of news companies versus the large digital news intermediaries that dominate the market…”
The other news is a little more comical. Louise Leduc informs us that Twitter has restricted the distribution of an article from the very serious review Quebec Science which deals with sexual pleasure and female anatomy.
Thus, when the journal wanted to relay the article on Twitter, a black background was displayed and the words “The following media includes potentially sensitive content” appeared on the screen. It was therefore necessary to press on “see more” to consult the article in question.
PHOTO JEFF CHIU, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Twitter headquarters in San Francisco
But I let the journalist explain the unusual part of the story: “Why was it like this for an article in a scientific magazine? We asked the question to the press relations department of Twitter who replied with an emoji illustrating droppings, its common practice when it has been approached by the media for some time. »
Is Twitter’s response so surprising? Has the bird become an arrogant cat who believes the universe revolves around him?
The above questions probably find part of their answers in a research report produced by Marc-François Bernier, from the University of Ottawa, and Marie-Eve Carignan, from the University of Sherbrooke. The two teachers report […] a significant decline in citizens’ confidence in Quebec news media, their credibility and that of their journalists, when compared to the results of a similar survey conducted in 2013…” I also regret that this report did not deserve all the attention it should receive following the media coverage of the Carleton-sur-Mer International Journalism Festival.
Impunity
In fact, it seems obvious to me that the heads of social networks are indifferent to the media since they know that they will suffer no real consequences when they block access to news, or respond cavalierly to journalists. The social media giants still have the big end of the stick.
At least for the moment.
To deal with the situation, subscribers could be tempted to obtain their news via mainstream media apps and websites, which would substantially reduce traffic on social media platforms. All these beautiful people could also migrate to new social networks to stay in touch with each other.
Life being a series of temporary cycles, the tide will eventually turn for the Twitters and Facebooks of this world.
In the meantime, the media will have to get to work in order to regain the trust and affection of the population by starting by discussing openly, frankly and transparently the issues that are undermining their credibility.
That said, in the short term, I believe the Meta and Twitter of this world are in dire need of skilled communications advisers to remind them that free enterprise is possible without undermining the Fourth Estate and democracy.
As for the media, I have no worries: the difficult questions will eventually be asked, the painful observations will be drawn up and the necessary changes will be put in place. We have too much to lose collectively to do without such reflection.