world wide web vs the war on words

Why do people turn to the internet - the Wild West World of information and misinformation - where we can judge each story for our self?

Why do we profess to be such know it alls when clearly we do not know what we do not know.

Blinded by belief in our knowledge of self, we stumble and storm, grapple and grope, so sure we know what we are doing.

HA! Such entitled foolish behavior is so tragic and dangerous.

You don't have to be an expert in news, journalism, and social media or an award-nominated data journalist in media, communication, and technology to be appropriate and discerning. Or do we?

While every human being has the god given right to express themselves, not all have the raised consciousness or awareness of self to be fully realized.

Therein lies the rub.

Often it is the fool and idiot who is most invested in screaming long and loud into the void. The rest just bear it until they no longer can.

Then what?

Is there a statute of limitations to free speech? Those who value it bristle in outrage at its mention or consideration.

Yet do we each and all truly investigate and verify just how free our access is to this information.

Moment by moment what filters, preferences, biases color and skew perspectives, outlooks, outcomes?

The most pervasive filter yet is likely to normalize the weeding out of viewpoints that are in conflict with established interests.

Jonathan Albright cautions us to stop worrying about fake news and focus instead on what comes next, which will be much worse.

He raises valid concerns that in the not too distant future, technology giants will decide what news sources we are allowed to consult, and alternative voices will be silenced.

Who wins then?

The most vociferous? The most violent? The most vigilant?