%0 Journal Article %1 helberger2020power %A Helberger, Natali %D 2020 %I Informa UK Limited %J Digital Journalism %K Europe opinion_power platform_economy pluralism regulation social_media_platforms %N 6 %P 842--854 %R 10.1080/21670811.2020.1773888 %T The Political Power of Platforms: How Current Attempts to Regulate Misinformation Amplify Opinion Power %U https://doi.org/10.1080%2F21670811.2020.1773888 %V 8 %X This contribution critically reviews the ongoing policy initiatives in Europe to impose greater societal responsibility on social media platforms. I discuss the current regulatory approach of treating social platforms as mere 'intermediaries' of the speech of others and propose a different perspective. Instead of perceiving platforms as intermediaries and facilitators of the speech of others, I view social media platforms as active political actors in their own right, and wielders of considerable opinion power. I will explain how taking the perspective of opinion power throws a very different, and rather alarming light on the recent regulatory initiatives.

@article{helberger2020power, abstract = {This contribution critically reviews the ongoing policy initiatives in Europe to impose greater societal responsibility on social media platforms. I discuss the current regulatory approach of treating social platforms as mere 'intermediaries' of the speech of others and propose a different perspective. Instead of perceiving platforms as intermediaries and facilitators of the speech of others, I view social media platforms as active political actors in their own right, and wielders of considerable opinion power. I will explain how taking the perspective of opinion power throws a very different, and rather alarming light on the recent regulatory initiatives. }, added-at = {2020-09-02T13:22:42.000+0200}, author = {Helberger, Natali}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/244705c93e9022e8c3b54b8fdc2f16a41/meneteqel}, doi = {10.1080/21670811.2020.1773888}, interhash = {d11cdfc6fa7ba5164ed84525371a4a38}, intrahash = {44705c93e9022e8c3b54b8fdc2f16a41}, journal = {Digital Journalism}, keywords = {Europe opinion_power platform_economy pluralism regulation social_media_platforms}, language = {eng}, month = jul, number = 6, pages = {842--854}, publisher = {Informa {UK} Limited}, timestamp = {2020-09-02T13:22:42.000+0200}, title = {The Political Power of Platforms: How Current Attempts to Regulate Misinformation Amplify Opinion Power}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080%2F21670811.2020.1773888}, volume = 8, year = 2020 }