For a while I was tempted to believe that the insanity on social media was not that big a deal. Its disgusting attributes were a consequence of the medium. Or it only represented a small group of narcissists and troublemakers. It did not represent society as a whole.
No, it doesn’t represent society, but it does seem to lead it. They’re not called “influencers” for nothing.
It seems we have created a medium that attracts and promotes the worst elements of human society, which then infiltrates and poisons the rest of society.
What is the proper response to such a thing?
Generally speaking, I don’t want a government with the power to prevent or curtail something like social media. But no other institution (education, church, media, the family) has the will, ability, or desire to stop it.
In an earlier time, preachers would rail against it and it would be far less socially consequential.
This is an illustration of John Adams’s statement that our government is inadequate for any but a good and religious people.
So we seem to be faced with a choice of (1) giving our government the power to rule an irreligious people, or (2) hoping, praying, and working for revival.