The mental health consequences of the protocol-free nature online discourse are devastating. I am strongly opposed to censorship, but there are ways to elevate the tone of online discourse that do not impinge on free speech. PSAs have been largely replaced by censorship. I am advocating for the CDC to launch a PSA campaign that introduces common sense protocols for online discourse. The ones suggested on this platform are excellent jumping off point:
DO
- Criticize ideas, not people.
- Provide thoughtful insights that improve the conversation.
- Ask for clarification before responding critically
- Assume the best motives of the person you are addressing
AVOID:
- Name-calling
- Ad hominem attacks
- Assuming you know anything about the stranger you are addressing (explain that bigotry encompasses more assumptions than race and gender)
- Responding to a post’s tone instead of its actual content
- Knee-jerk contradiction
REMEMBER
*Egos and feelings are precious and often fragile.
*People are not persuaded by cruelty and insults.
*When we make incorrect assumptions about a stranger based on one idea or attitude they express online, we prove nothing so muchvas pur own poor judgment.
PSAs could address each of these recommendations, offering examples of how to communicate productively.