Article by Sophia Knight: “The development of non-profit, public interest alternatives to access and debate information online can contribute to a healthier information ecosystem – the question is what role should public service media play in providing them? We are living within an increasingly volatile and unpredictable democratic landscape in the UK. We face challenges with political polarisation and social cohesion, exacerbated by the decades-long fragmentation of our civic infrastructure.
The shift to an online information ecosystem has disrupted traditional media. Digital public spaces have enabled almost anyone, anywhere, to speak their minds, opening new avenues for connection. Yet, the open internet has become overrun by sprawling platform monopolies, shaped by algorithms and profit-seeking incentives towards attention and outrage.
Policymakers, and to a large extent the media industry, are stuck on one part of the solution: regulating harmful online content. To move forward, we need to identify and build on opportunities to improve the digital information ecosystem, rather than only targeting potential threats…(More)”.
