This article from CNN examines the effectiveness of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter in labeling user-generated content, particularly the content from prominent individuals, as possibly flawed.
Whatever you think of social media services, you have to admit they are in a difficult situation. You have folks complaining about how disinformation and conspiracy theories are spread by these services and this content may be the only “news” some people receive. The selection of friends who likely have common interests and the algorithms that prioritize content the users themselves value can create an echo chamber of inaccurate information. Then there is another category of complaint focused on Section 230 and the contention that any action taken to curb anyone’s statements represents an abuse of free speech.
The CNN article focuses on the attempted remedies of the social media companies that involve labels or the inclusion of links to sources offering alternative perspectives. The approach taken will vary with the company. The article notes that other media types (cable news programs) are not as meek in responding and offer direct criticism. Of course, the more direct complaints of different programs could be completely opposed to each other. The CNN point is that the television programs take an obvious position and social media make the weak argument suggesting that an alternate perspective exists. The CNN article goes on to note that the labels themselves often end being offered as proof of the bias of social media companies. Interestingly, the complaints of bias never seem to stop the poster from using the platform.
The differentiation allowed by the selection of a news source (television) or by the content selection of friends and the algorithms that adjust content viewed to personal preferences (online social media) mean that perspectives on the world do not begin with a common set of facts perhaps then spun in different ways by secondary analysis.
I believe in the personal effort to read sources likely to be read by others interested in reasonably unbiased information (major newspapers) and argumentation (engagement with others involving the presentation of reasons and supporting evidence) as remedies and perhaps a starting point to a more productive use of social media. The challenge is getting other people to agree with me.