Letters: Social media's tactics, not its content, are in question

"No, social media algorithms are not speech; they are products. Even if they were speech, not all speech is protected (e.g., yelling Fire in a crowded theater). An algorithm that, by its design, causes harm in the name of profit cannot be considered protected speech under the First or any other amendment."

"No social media platform is being held liable for the content of any particular posting; it is rather the classification and targeting of such postings to keep users clicking in a manner that can only be described as addictive, just like tobacco."

"Taxes are the price the rich pay to sleep well at night. While I suspect the billionaires referenced in the article are sleeping just fine on their piles of cash, one has to wonder just how long they may do so."

"This corridor is our key groundwater recharge zone that helps protect our region from drought and flooding. Yes, Coyote Valley is an open space for recreation, but it also serves as a critical wildlife corridor."

Social media algorithms operate as products engineered to classify and target posts to maximize clicks and engagement. Those algorithmic designs can cause harm when profit motives prioritize addictive user behavior over welfare. Not all forms of expression receive constitutional protection when they intentionally create harm. Concentrated wealth raises questions about taxation and whether taxes are the price the rich pay for social stability and peace of mind. Coyote Valley functions as a critical groundwater recharge zone and wildlife corridor that protects the region from drought and flooding. A proposed cemetery in that corridor would threaten water supply, wildlife, and recreational open space.

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