"The internet has turned fringe belief into mainstream politics and policy from authoritarianism to vaccines. With democracy itself threatened, is it time to go back to a previous world of landlines, letters and face-to-face-contact, audiotapes and Ansaphones? What would we miss about the online world that is worth the risk to liberal culture and basic freedoms? Mees Visser, Groningen, Netherlands Post your answers (and new questions) below or send them to nq@theguardian.com."
"The internet has turned fringe belief into mainstream politics and policy from authoritarianism to vaccines. With democracy itself threatened, is it time to go back to a previous world of landlines, letters and face-to-face-contact, audiotapes and Ansaphones? What would we miss about the online world that is worth the risk to liberal culture and basic freedoms?"
The internet has enabled fringe beliefs to enter mainstream politics and policy, influencing topics from authoritarianism to vaccines. Democratic systems face pressure as misinformation and amplified extremism shape public opinion and policy choices. Reverting to pre-digital communication modes—landlines, letters, face-to-face contact, audiotapes, and Ansaphones—could slow rapid spread of falsehoods and reduce mass mobilization around conspiracies. Abandoning online connectivity would also sacrifice rapid information access, global community-building, civic organizing, and platforms for marginalized voices. The trade-off between protecting liberal culture and preserving online benefits requires public debate and careful evaluation of costs and safeguards.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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