Keeping the neighbourhood safe: how does social media moderation control what we see (and think)?

Abstract

This article will address the issue of the growing reach, influence and potential accountability of Facebook and other social media platforms as a source of news and current affairs and shaper of social views, political opinions and norms. It will consider the recent release by Facebook of its guidelines on content moderation and its own assessment of how it is performing against its targets with respect to detection, classification and treatment of content. It will review a recent decision regarding President Trump’s Twitter feed and conclude that greater transparency regarding moderation practices is required.