Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how much power social media has over what we see, think, and even believe. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook feel like places where everyone goes to talk, share opinions, and stay updated. It honestly feels like a public square, which is something the Supreme Court talked about in Packingham v. North Carolina. But at the same time, these platforms aren’t actually public they’re owned by big companies like Meta Platforms. That’s where things start to feel weird to me.At the beginning of 2025, there were changes where fact checking was removed from platforms like Instagram and Facebook. I also saw people talking about how they were suddenly following political figures without choosing to. That made me realize how little control we actually have over what shows up on our feeds. Like, we think we’re choosing what we see, but really the platform is choosing for us. There are definitely good things about these apps. I use Instagram all the time to keep up with friends, laugh at videos, and just relax. It’s easy, and everyone I know is on it. Big platforms make it simple to connect with people and spread information fast. That’s why movements and important conversations can grow so quickly online. But the downside is kind of scary. If one company controls everything, they can also decide what gets pushed and what gets hidden. And if they stop fact-checking, misinformation can spread even faster. That connects to what the Free Speech Project talks about with “The New Public Square?” basically, these platforms shape what we believe, even if we don’t realize it.
Another thing I’ve been thinking about is whether we should really trust these companies to do the right thing. At the end of the day, they’re businesses. Their goal is to make money and keep people on the app, not necessarily to make sure everything is fair or true. So relying on them to control such important conversations doesn’t feel right.
Some people suggest using more decentralized platforms, where no one company is fully in charge. I like the idea of that because it gives users more control, but honestly, those platforms aren’t as popular or easy to use yet. It’s hard to leave when all your friends and content are still on Instagram or Facebook.
I do think the government might need to step in a little, especially if social media is basically where public conversations happen now. One idea I thought was interesting is portability, where you could move your followers and content to another platform easily. That way, we wouldn’t feel stuck in one place.
As for who owns what we say online… it doesn’t really feel like us. Even though we post things, the platform controls where it goes and who sees it. That doesn’t seem completely fair. Personally, I’m starting to be more careful with how I use social media. I still go on Instagram a lot, but I try not to believe everything I see right away. I also think more about how the app might be influencing me without me noticing. I haven’t fully switched to other platforms yet, but I’m more open to it now.
Overall, I think something needs to change. Social media isn’t just for fun anymore it’s where people get news, share opinions, and have important conversations. If that’s the case, then we shouldn’t leave all that power in the hands of a few companies. Users should have more control, more transparency, and more say in what happens on these platforms.