Facebook needs to be shutdown as it poses an existential threat to democracy because it provides a platform for the worst of us to amplify their messages of hate and division and to spread conspiracies. It facilitates people who would otherwise not be able to find others like them to organize. So instead of the crazy person on the corner with a sign condemning homosexuals or spouting conspiracies that most would look at and laugh these people find others like them and become ever more extreme.
Addendum: This isn’t about Zuckerberg. Any other dominant social network will be co-opted in the same way because of inherent flaws in people: we are prone to groupthink and as demographics change such that there’s an ever growing acceptance of conspiracy theories and greater division in American politics for example Facebook will continue to drive discord and thereby profits from further engagement on its service by exploiting these inner human vices.
Addendum: This isn’t about Zuckerberg. Any other dominant social network will be co-opted in the same way because of inherent flaws in people: we are prone to groupthink and as demographics change such that there’s an ever growing acceptance of conspiracy theories and greater division in American politics for example Facebook will continue to drive discord and thereby profits from further engagement on its service by exploiting these inner human vices.