On today’s Your Call we’re discussing the rise of uncivil communication online. YouTube is imposing stricter moderation and Popular Science has dropped commenting altogether. The internet has been touted as a great equalizer, but some have taken advantage of the ease of communication with abusive language. Should comments sections be curated op-ed spaces or totally open free-for-alls? What is the value of digital discussion, and how does the act of “trolling” dismantle healthy discourse? And where do we draw the line between moderation and censorship? Join the conversation on the next Your Call, with Rose Aguilar, and you.
Guests:
Dietram Scheufele, a professor in Science Communication at the University of Wisconsin, Madison
Jillian York, Director for International Freedom of Expression at the Electronic Frontier Foundation in San Francisco
Soraya Chemaly, who writes about gender in media, politics, religion and pop culture
Web Resources:
Disconnect - block websites that are trying to track you and make Facebook commenting safer
Huffington Post - The Digital Safety Gap and the Online Harassment of Women
Wired - Comment sections are ruled by tolls. Here are some alternatives
The Daily Dot - Comment moderation and the (anti-) social web
NYT - This Story Stinks
Lifehacker- What exactly is free speech and how does it apply to the internet?