Former US president Barack Obama warned on Thursday that the way Americans communicate on social media networks has weakened democracy.
Mr Obama, who owns the podcasting and film company Higher Ground, warned that “citizens no longer know what to believe” thanks to false information spreading online.
This is leading to political scepticism among citizens, he said.
“The very design of these platforms is tilting us in the wrong direction,” Mr Obama said during a conference at Stanford University’s Cyber Policy Centre.
Hate speech, vaccine misinformation and state-sponsored amplification of fake news are feeding people’s desire to read sensational content, the former president said.
While Mr Obama acknowledged that some of the most odious content, such as racism, white supremacy and conspiracy theories, existed “long before the first tweet was sent", he said that “solving the disinformation problem” on social media networks could help to build trust and solidarity among citizens.
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Then-president Barack Obama blows out candles on birthday cupcakes brought to him by then-vice president Joe Biden in the Oval Office, August 4, 2016. Photo courtesy of the National Archives/Pete Souza -
Mr Obama with predecessors Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W Bush in Dallas, Texas, in April 2013. Mr Obama turned 60 on August 4, 2021. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama greets US embassy staff and their families at a hotel in Kingston, Jamaica, in 2015. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Throwings darts at Manuel's Tavern before an interview with 'Vice' in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2015. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama inspects the replica of a prison cell at the National Voting Rights Museum in Selma, Alabama. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Congressman John Lewis in 2011. The veteran politician died in 2020. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama strolls the lawn with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Photo courtesy of former president -
On vacation in Martha’s Vineyard, Mr Obama shared a moment with his young niece, Savita. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama looks at jewellery at a shop before a walking tour of the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, March 23, 2013. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
President Barack Obama participates the Gulf Co-operation Council Summit at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 21, 2016. The president is seated with King Salman of Saudi Arabia and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama poses for a group selfie with the US Women's National Soccer Team celebrating their Fifa Women's World Cup victory at the White House on October 27, 2015. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama watches as a vendor writes a name using coloured sand in a bottle during a walking tour of the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, March 23, 2013. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama receives a fist-bump from a US soldier as he greets hundreds of US troops during his visit to Camp Victory, Iraq, April 7, 2009. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama and then-vice president Joe Biden walk around the South Lawn of the White House during a break on a working Sunday, July 24, 2011. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama delivers remarks with the help of comedic actor Keegan-Michael Key as his 'anger translator' during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, April 25, 2015. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama, wife Michelle, her mother, daughters Malia and Sasha join John Lewis, George W Bush, his wife Laura and other dignitaries to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday, March 7, 2015. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama and then-vice president Joe Biden high-five after watching Sasha Obama and Maisy Biden, the vice president's granddaughter, play in a basketball game in Chevy Chase, Maryland, February 27, 2010. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
The former president talks with a young refugee as she paints at a Dignity for Children Foundation classroom in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama waves goodbye from the steps of Air Force One as he departs King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on his way to Cairo, Egypt, June 4, 2009. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama views the area near the Treasury during a walking tour of the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, March 23, 2013. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama walking near the pyramids in Egypt. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mrk Obama removes his shoes as he prepares to visit the Blue Mosque April 7, 2009, in Istanbul, Turkey. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama sits on the grass with daughter Sasha during a barbecue with family and friends in celebration of his 49th birthday on the South Lawn of the White House. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama views science exhibits during the 2015 White House Science Fair celebrating technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions, March 23, 2015. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama and first lady Michelle Obama present a birthday cake to Assistant Usher Reggie Dickson following a Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony and dinner honouring President Shimon Peres of Israel, June 13, 2012. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama turned 60 on August 4. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama hugs Gabby Giffords as he arrives to deliver the State of the Union address in the House Chamber on January 24, 2012 at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama takes a moment to himself before delivering remarks to the nation after yet another mass shooting. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama jokingly scolds then-vice president Joe Biden for dropping birthday cake in the Oval Office of the White House. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama hugs first lady Michelle Obama after she introduces him at a grassroots campaign event at Lagomarcino's Confectionary in Davenport, Iowa, August 15, 2012. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama attempts his best split with the gold medal 2016 US Olympic Women's Gymnastics Team after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 29, 2016. Photo courtesy of the National Archives -
Mr Obama on a much-needed vacation in his home state of Hawaii. Photo courtesy of the National Archives
Although his production company is reported to be in talks with podcast distributors for a deal worth tens of millions of dollars, he said he was concerned that the way people created and marketed information through the internet posed a threat to democracy.
Mr Obama said his meetings with people at companies such as Facebook, Twitter and Google’s YouTube showed him their employees were “sincere in trying to limit content that encourages hate speech or violence".
But he said that the companies had a financial inventive to keep as many users engaged as possible.
“While content moderation can limit distribution of clearly dangerous content, it doesn’t go far enough,” Mr Obama said. “Users who want to spread disinformation have become experts in pushing right up to the line.”
He added his voice to concerns over internet-based disinformation and misinformation at a time when Elon Musk’s effort to buy Twitter has spurred debate over social media’s obligations to free speech.
