Coronavirus, campaigns, and connectivity

If we have to suspend or otherwise modify political campaigning because of coronavirus, social media will become even more important and the fissures it creates even more painful. We should expect the platform companies such as Facebook and Google to step up to this national emergency—but can we? Will they step up? One alternative would be for platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp (all owned by Facebook), as well as video platforms such as YouTube (owned by Google), to quit exploiting our differences and deliver political messages just as broadcasters do: the same message to all. The social media companies could also offer free time to the major candidates for broadcast-to-all messages. Looking to social media to confront coronavirus’ impact on political discourse would require the companies to walk away from the formula that has made them rich. Since social media is largely unregulated, there is no government body that can require them to act in the public interest. The Federal Communications Commission should exercise its authority over broadcasting while also using the bully pulpit to encourage social media platforms to follow that lead.

[Tom Wheeler served as the 31st Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission from 2013-2017.]