Can open dialogue and debate beat the alleged COVID-19 disinformation and lies on Reddit?
Reddit is rejecting a call for it to remove COVID-19 disinformation, citing the need to permit dissent and debate on the social media platform. On Wednesday, hundreds of volunteer moderators from various sub-forums on Reddit signed an open letter demanding that it take down “dangerous medical disinformation.” According to the moderators, Reddit has done little to stop the problem when infections and deaths from the virus continue to surge in the US. “We could have been better off months ago, but disinformation and lies have been allowed to spread readily through inaction and malice, and have dragged this on at the cost of lives,” the letter says. However, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman responded by defending the platform’s practices. “Dissent is a part of Reddit and the foundation of democracy,” he wrote. “Reddit is a place for open and authentic discussion and debate. This includes conversations that question or disagree with popular consensus. This includes conversations that criticize those that disagree with the majority opinion.” Reddit/r/conspiracy, where many COVID-19 conspiracy theories circulate. According to Huffman, Reddit itself supports the COVID-19 vaccines and mask-wearing.
