Former President Barak Obama made extensive use of the Internet during his campaign, as did Presidents Trump and Biden. Protesters in Iran used Twitter and Facebook as their only means of communication both within their county and to the outside world as government forces shut down traditional media and modes of communication. Protesters in Hong Kong rely on Social Media to organize and communicate, yet the Chinese government spends millions to try to shut these systems down. TikTock is a popular platform with Ukrainians on the verge of possible war with Russia. Bingham Young University recently changed a policy banning YouTube from its campus, citing the educational opportunities that were on this social media site. Yet, we are often told by instructors and academicians that the Internet and social media are dragging down standards and providing only "soft" news or worse. Accusations of "fake news" being perpetrated by Russia during the 2016 and 2020 election abound, and representatives from both Google and Facebook were questioned by Congress. There are even those who think this foreign interference may have had some sway over the election--or will be a factor in the next one. Critics denounce the "fake news" that pops up in our search feeds, while others hail Social Media as a truly democratic platform for the masses. Who is correct?

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