About Senator Richard Pan who is submitting the "SB1424 Internet: social media: false information: strategic plan.” bill

[Bob]

NOTE - this thread was started on another thread and a few key posts from there moved to this thread (see below).

The original thread which prompted these posts below was about California's Democratic Senator, Dr. Richard Pan introducing a bill which would REQUIRE that social media sites, websites, blogs, etc. anyone based (assumed hosting) out of California or have companies with an office in California, have TRUTH IN POSTING/REPORTING - that FAKE NEWS or spin or manipulation of data for "agendas" not be allowed to continue as "truth" and that steps will be taken to identify 'fakes' and be "tagged" by the companies as "FAKE" data, or fake news (see below).

Clearing up the DEFINITION of a Social Media Internet web site - a social media site that lets you connect with others who have similar interests and enables you to post and share content with others. That definition is important to understand as an accepted definition across the web. In the Bill (see below) the additional clarification adds in:

[..] an electronic service or account, or electronic content, including, but not limited to,

• videos,
• still photographs,
• blogs,
• video blogs,
• podcasts,
• instant and text messages,
• email,
• online services or accounts, or
• Internet Web site profiles or locations.

What are "online services"

• A business that provides its subscribers with a wide variety of data transmitted over telecommunications lines. Online services provide an infrastructure in which subscribers can communicate with one another, either by exchanging e-mail messages or by participating in online conferences (forums).

There are plenty of internet articles or blogs pointing out views about how people are reacting to the monitoring of FAKE NEWS and SPIN or outright "Lies or manipulation" ...

One would be able to assume that the 'right to publish fake news' under the "guise of free speech' then is OK. It is not to cop out using 'free speech' to allow spin or lies to become 'created truths' devoid of actuality, but allowed by manipulators (or possibly the confused or truly 'unenlightened') trying to use the Constitution as a way to allow lies to be considered fact. Yellow Journalism is how the old newspaper tycoons were able to manipulate whole societies and industries. That is fact.

Fake news/spin and manipulation for 'agenda' is like yelling FIRE in a crowded room when there is no fire there.. (see * reference below)

The emotional triggers are very present with the topics of free speech verses publishing or spin.

The 'Bill' in question highlights this point with these emphasis:

"any statement concerning real or personal property or services that is untrue or misleading -
(b) The strategic plan shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1) A plan to mitigate the spread of false information through news stories.
(2) The utilization of fact-checkers to verify news stories.
(3) Providing outreach to social media users regarding news stories containing false information.
(4) Placing a warning on a news story containing false information." (see below for the full Bill)

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To see what highly emotional triggers are being used to drive readers along a certain viewpoint is important to watch for.

If there are no driving points, then one may be seeing objectivity.. Possibly a good test to see if one is about to get into spin/manipulation or objectivity - is there emotion being used over and over? If so, why?

The questioning action then starts as follows - IDENTIFY the author of the "Bill" in question. Who is Senator Richard Pan, what has he done in the past, where does he stand on points. What is his motivation for a 'protection bill' ?

And probably MOST importantly, which two Social media and Data/News information/search engine companies are located in California?

• Google
• Facebook

That says a lot, doesn't it, about who the target is... Google (all services offered) and Facebook, all services offered.

People posting "fake news" on Google + (plus) accounts would similarly being doing an unjust action and subject to criminal penalties. Or making up fake YouTubes.. publishing fake/spining/manipulation to promote a false truth for some 'agenda'.

The stuff that google brings forth in search is quite encompassing... They are providing that SERVICE bringing forth pages for searches (besides their own NEWS section)..

So they fall under the BILL - they would HAVE to then do the FAKE NEWS checking dance;

• "mitigate the spread of false information through news stories.
• "The utilization of fact-checkers to verify news stories."

Will Google STOP bringing up webpage searches from any of the web which contains FAKE NEWS? false reports, manipulation and/or spin? Will they determine such are that and then post a warning before the webpage is presented to the searcher using the service?

What a quagmire is being opened, I suppose 'draining the swamp' means a LOT of work is going to be needed, not just the local DC swamp - but all across the board..

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How about some background on Sen Richard Pan? (see the OP post 1) - it always helps to understand whom one is dealing with..

Richard Pan is an American politician currently serving in the California State Senate.

He is a Democrat representing the 6th Senate District, which encompasses parts of Sacramento and Yolo counties.

Born: October 28, 1965 (age 52), United States of America
Nationality: American
Residence: Sacramento, CA
Succeeded by: Jim Cooper
Political party: California Democratic Party
Education: Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Pittsburgh

Pan is a member of the California Asian & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus. Prior to being elected to the State Senate in 2014, he was a member of the California State Assembly representing the 5th Assembly District, and after the 2010 redistricting, the 9th Assembly District.

A pediatrician by training, he continues to practice during his service as a state senator.

Pan was born in New York City to immigrant parents from Taiwan.

Pan introduced California Senate Bill 277 in 2015, which requires vaccinations for California school children. After the bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown, opponents of the bill tried to force a recall election on Pan but failed to submit the required signatures.

Prior to serving in the state senate, he was a member of the California State Assembly. Pan was Chair of the California Assembly Committee on Health, and is a member on the Committee on Agriculture, Committee on Appropriations, and Committee on Revenue and Taxation.

Previously, Pan was Vice-Chair of the California Assembly Veteran's Affairs Committee and served on the committees on Aging and Long-Term Care, and Accountability and Administrative Review.

He was also the Chair of the Select Committee on Healthcare Workforce and Access to Care. He continues to practice at Wellspace Health's Oak Park Community Clinic, where he established the pediatric clinic while at UC Davis Children's Hospital.

Pan has received many awards for his community and professional leadership including the UC Davis Chancellor’s Award for Diversity and Community, the Medical Board of California Physician Humanitarian Award, the American Academy of Pediatrics Abraham Jacobi Memorial Award for lifetime achievement in pediatrics, the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society Medical Honor Award, the California School Nurses Organization Lydia Smiley Award, the United Way California Capitol Region Clarence La Rue Outstanding Volunteer Award, and the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Sacramento Hearts and Hands Award.

Pan received a B.A. in Biophysics at The Johns Hopkins University, a M.D. at the University of Pittsburgh entering into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, and a M.P.H. at Harvard University. He completed his pediatric residency at Massachusetts General Hospital also serving as Chief Resident in Pediatrics and was a Primary Care Research Fellow and Anne Dyson Pediatric Advocacy Fellow at Children's Hospital Boston. He also was a California HealthCare Foundation Health Care Leadership Fellow.

Pan is a nationally recognized university educator. In addition to teaching as a faculty member at UC Davis, he has published numerous papers on medical education and physician workforce. He served on the American Medical Association Council on Medical Education and on the board of the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education, which oversees physician residency education in the United States. He also was an Ambulatory Pediatric Association National Pediatric Faculty Development Scholar.

This is his official webpage: http://sd06.senate.ca.gov/

In 2017 he was responsible for focusing on these Bills:

• SB 18 would establish a comprehensive framework that governs the rights of all children and youth in California by outlining the research-based essential needs of California’s children. SB 18 establishes standards relating to the health, safety, well-being, early childhood and educational opportunities, and familial supports necessary for all children to succeed.
• SB 28 provides for the legislative ratification of the six memoranda of understanding (MOUs) for the State of California.
• SB 220 ensures that there are strong representatives dedicated to children’s health on the Medical Children's Advisory Panel, a stakeholder group that provides feedback on topics that impact children in Medi-Cal.
• SB 267 brings transparency to local election processes by allowing the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) to contract with the City of Sacramento for purposes of enforcing city's campaign finance ordinance.
• SB 293 would bring pay parity for law enforcement by assuring that supervisors of peace officers are being adequately compensated in comparison to their subordinates.
• SB 311 would allow licensed cannabis operators to offer their testing lab services to other licensed cannabis operators who do not have testing labs of their own.
• SB 382 would create the California Mosquito Surveillance and Research Program Account (Account) to be administered by the State Department of Public Health (CDPH.)
• SB 401 improves childcare facilities and the wellbeing of children by repealing an outdated provision of state law, which currently restricts California from building a childcare facility larger than 2,100 square feet.
• SB 426 will help reduce child abuse and neglect while strengthening families, lifting them out of poverty and reducing the indirect costs child abuse and neglect has on other parts of the state budget.
• SB 432 assures that we notify firefighters and other emergency medical personnel in a timely manner if they have been exposed to a reportable disease or condition while performing the duties of the job and rendering emergency medical aid to a patient.
• SB 456 assures that we can continue to use health homes as a way of delivering primary care that helps people stay healthy by managing chronic conditions and keeping up with preventive care.
• SB 536 directs the California Department of Justice to provide information on gun violence restraining orders to researchers affiliated with the University of California’s Firearm Violence Research Center.
• SB 550 protects workers, by establishing that if a union prevails in a lawsuit that proves an employer failed to provide wages or benefits, than the employer shall pay the union's attorney's fees and expenses.
• SB 580 ensures that there will be enough money allotted to maintain the health of the American and Sacramento River watersheds.
• SB 643 adds Duchenne muscular dystrophy to the list of medical conditions eligible for coverage under the Genetically Handicapped Persons Program.
• SB 730 assures that school meals in California are being sourced from local farms within the United States, and not from other countries like China.

The Senate Bill 1424 -
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/f...01720180SB1424

Date Published: 03/22/2018 09:00 PM
BILL START

AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 22, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

SENATE BILL No. 1424

Introduced by Senator Pan

February 16, 2018

SB 1424, as amended, Pan.
Internet: social media: false information: strategic plan.

Existing law prohibits a person, among others, from making or disseminating in any advertising device, or in any manner or means whatever, including over the Internet, any statement concerning real or personal property or services that is untrue or misleading, as specified.

This bill would require any person who operates a social media, as defined, Internet Web site with a physical presence in California to develop a strategic plan to verify news stories shared on its Web site.

The bill would require the plan to include, among other things, a plan to mitigate the spread of false information through news stories, the utilization of fact-checkers to verify news stories, providing outreach to social media users, and placing a warning on a news story containing false information.

Vote: majority Appropriation: no Fiscal Committee: no Local Program: no

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. Title 14.5 (commencing with Section 3085) is added to Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, to read:
TITLE 14.5. False Information Strategic Plans
3085. (a) Any person who operates a social media Internet Web site with physical presence in California shall develop a strategic plan to verify news stories shared on its Internet Web site.
(b) The strategic plan shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1) A plan to mitigate the spread of false information through news stories.
(2) The utilization of fact-checkers to verify news stories.
(3) Providing outreach to social media users regarding news stories containing false information.
(4) Placing a warning on a news story containing false information.
(c) As used in this section, “social media” means an electronic service or account, or electronic content, including, but not limited to, videos, still photographs, blogs, video blogs, podcasts, instant and text messages, email, online services or accounts, or Internet Web site profiles or locations.

Status


Date Action
04/04/18 Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
03/22/18 From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
03/08/18 Referred to Com. on RLS.
02/20/18 From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22.
02/16/18 Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

*reference: People often argue some speech is protected by analogizing to shouting fire in a crowded theater. ... And in fact the line from Justice Holmes in Schenck v. United States is “The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic.” May 11, 2015 (Fake news creating a panic would not be protected speech for instance.)

[ceetee9]

Posted by Bob (here)
How about some background on Sen Richard Pan (see the OP post 1) - it always helps to understand whom one is dealing with..

Bob, perhaps I’m missing the point you were attempting to make, but with all due respect, if it was to infer that because a person is highly educated and/or accredited we should be less critical of their ideas and behaviors, I disagree.

I’ve worked with highly educated and accredited people throughout my career and while some were absolutely brilliant in their fields of specialized training and expertise they had their head shoved so far up where the sun don’t shine in other areas that I marveled at how they could be one and the same person.

In my opinion, any Congressman who proposes any legislation that attempts to undermine or circumvent the U.S. Constitution—particularly the 1st, 2nd and 4th Amendments—is a traitor to the U.S. Constitution, U.S. Government and the people of the United States of America and should be removed from office immediately.

[Bob]

It's customary to have background on who is being discussed.

Background talks about where he works, where his attention is, what demographic he focuses on (apparently kids are a big focus) as well as folks who need assistance - he also apparently supported Cannabis testing (for quality) SB 311 would allow licensed cannabis operators to offer their testing lab services to other licensed cannabis operators who do not have testing labs of their own.) He is a democrat. His picture is there (folks like to see and make an evaluation of a person based on their youtube interviews or if that's not there, they use a picture). He has a red flag - pushed mandatory vaccination of California kids - what was his motivation? His education or was he being paid by someone (lobbied), to push that, (a good reason for investigative background study).

Pan introduced California Senate Bill 277 in 2015, which requires vaccinations for California school children. After the bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown, opponents of the bill tried to force a recall election on Pan but failed to submit the required signatures.

Was that missed?

I had intended to do the post originally as the thread start; instead I thought it would be good for others to have a stab at it for what it's worth.

Folks don't like it apparently when I provide background on the people, the background on the topic, the background on the issues. So I thought I would watch to see how the topic is treated and I could ask appropriate questions. It's clear how to me now it's being treated. Thanks for sharing thoughts and emotions.

It is curious what his (Pan's) motivations then are. I have not seen anyone nor Pan explaining himself why he is doing this new Bill, or what influenced, or who influenced him. To do that one needs to have dialog from him, and those backing him.

One needs to know who he is, to understand his motivations.

Lastly, verifying the 'Bill' in question, actually going to the California Legislative reporting page and actually seeing the first DRAFT and the subsequent modifications is revealing..

(the draft was briefly quoted in part not published completely in the OP post 1).

Verification of the source from that op, or verifying source data from any "information" used in a thread or post allows for seeing if there is accuracy or coloring from the source of the data. In other words, cross checking for slanted/colored/fake or modified 'news';, interestingly and maybe coincidentally, the deeper subject/topic of that first California Bill thread and the substance behind the Bill. Proper procedure in other words was used in investigative reporting. Cross check the data.

So the 'checking effort' evokes questioning, hmm.. One then doesn't just blindly 'believe' a 'talking head' (terminology from seeing/viewing headshots of MSM reporters on TV) or another 'news source' post used from someone off the web.. Re-hashing, re-repeating and not doing one's own research then runs the risk of missing something important omitted in the 'source'.

One does the actual research themselves, finding background, verifying topic/subject, and finding out who and where such was originated. One can then monitor for any deviation and find out where it is happening, who is deviating (and maybe why what motivation), and have a way to be able to (if one is desirous of being ethical in reporting) point out the correct facts.. How to stop fake news in other words, or tainted news in other words, or spin news or spin sites (Sorcha Faal comes to mind).. Seems like a no brainer really.

One starts with background, then trying to find out reasons why one would act a certain way, and remove opinion/bias, staying objective and matter-of-fact. Emotional reporting conveys emotion and kicks biases into high gear.. In finding out why such a 'Bill' was introduced, finding out that maybe a big highly manipulative character like Soros was behind this being pushed to "stir up trouble" could be a motivation (an opinion).. Soros would most certainly benefit and the current administration would take a hit, maybe by a 'sacrificial democrat' (Pan) to take the heat. So... Looking deeper when analyzing background of the fellow for out-of-character action is essential. Proper investigative procedure is being followed.

Media manipulation - https://www.project-syndicate.org/co...-soros-2018-02 - Social media security threat by George Soros 2018-02

Statement by Soros:

Social media companies deceive their users by manipulating their attention, directing it toward their own commercial purposes, and deliberately engineering addiction to the services they provide. This can be very harmful, particularly for adolescents.

Posted by ceetee9 (here)

Posted by Bob (here)
How about some background on Sen Richard Pan (see the OP post 1) - it always helps to understand whom one is dealing with..

Bob, perhaps I’m missing the point you were attempting to make, but with all due respect, if it was to infer that because a person is highly educated and/or accredited we should be less critical of their ideas and behaviors, I disagree.

I’ve worked with highly educated and accredited people throughout my career and while some were absolutely brilliant in their fields of specialized training and expertise they had their head shoved so far up where the sun don’t shine in other areas that I marveled at how they could be one and the same person.

In my opinion, any Congressman who proposes any legislation that attempts to undermine or circumvent the U.S. Constitution—particularly the 1st, 2nd and 4th Amendments—is a traitor to the U.S. Constitution, U.S. Government and the people of the United States of America and should be removed from office immediately.

The complete posting is this:

(the underlined section below was struck-thru and in red on the original Legislative reporting site)
An act to amend Section 1103 of the Commercial Code, relating to commercial law.

An act to add Title 14.5 (commencing with Section 3085) to Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, relating to the Internet.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

(the underlined section below was struck-thru and in red on the original Legislative reporting site)

SB 1424, as amended, Pan. Commercial law. Internet: social media: false information: strategic plan.

Existing law prohibits a person, among others, from making or disseminating in any advertising device, or in any manner or means whatever, including over the Internet, any statement concerning real or personal property or services that is untrue or misleading, as specified.
This bill would require any person who operates a social media, as defined, Internet Web site with a physical presence in California to develop a strategic plan to verify news stories shared on its Web site. The bill would require the plan to include, among other things, a plan to mitigate the spread of false information through news stories, the utilization of fact-checkers to verify news stories, providing outreach to social media users, and placing a warning on a news story containing false information.

(the underlined section below was struck-thru and in red on the original Legislative reporting site)
The Uniform Commercial Code generally regulates commercial transactions, and is intended to be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies, which include simplifying, clarifying, and modernizing the law governing commercial transactions.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to that law.


Vote: majority Appropriation: no Fiscal Committee: no Local Program: no
BILL TEXT
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. Title 14.5 (commencing with Section 3085) is added to Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, to read:
TITLE 14.5. False Information Strategic Plans
3085. (a) Any person who operates a social media Internet Web site with physical presence in California shall develop a strategic plan to verify news stories shared on its Internet Web site.
(b) The strategic plan shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1) A plan to mitigate the spread of false information through news stories.
(2) The utilization of fact-checkers to verify news stories.
(3) Providing outreach to social media users regarding news stories containing false information.
(4) Placing a warning on a news story containing false information.
(c) As used in this section, “social media” means an electronic service or account, or electronic content, including, but not limited to, videos, still photographs, blogs, video blogs, podcasts, instant and text messages, email, online services or accounts, or Internet Web site profiles or locations.

(the underlined section below was struck-thru and in red on the original Legislative reporting site)
SECTION 1.Section 1103 of the Commercial Code is amended to read:
1103.(a)This code shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies, which are all of the following:
(1)To simplify, clarify, and modernize the law governing commercial transactions.
(2)To permit the continued expansion of commercial practices through custom, usage, and agreement of the parties.
(3)To make uniform the law among the various jurisdictions.
(b)Unless displaced by the particular provisions of this code, the principles of law and equity, including the law merchant and the law relative to capacity to contract, principal and agent, estoppel, fraud, misrepresentation, duress, coercion, mistake, bankruptcy, and other validating or invalidating cause supplement its provisions.

[ceetee9]

Thank you Bob for your clarification and the effort you’ve put into researching Senator Pan and the Bill in question. Very commendable!

While I agree that doing one’s own research in an attempt to flesh out the “true” facts and motivations behind the “talking heads” regarding an issue is a righteous and noble undertaking, I’m not convinced that one could ever do a sufficient amount of research to be completely confident that all of the information uncovered was 100% factual or true. And I certainly don’t believe that one could know with 100% confidence what a person’s motivations were. How many people have had their confidence in the honesty, integrity and character of a family member or friend completely shattered when their true character was revealed (such as in a criminal case)?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting that one should not question or investigate a subject ever for fear of never really getting to the absolute truth. I question everything, but I’m not so naïve as to believe that I will know the whole truth about anything no matter how much time and effort I devote to the research. And let’s be real here, there’s simply no way most people could possibly devote enough time, energy and money to completely research every topic of importance or interest. Perhaps multi-billionaires and the government could, but not the average person.

Consequently, I attempt to find researchers who I’ve come to trust and respect and who I believe do a reasonable job of investigating topics that matter most to me. Does that mean that I believe I’ve found the best and brightest, or that they never get it wrong, or that I’m not being hoodwinked by them? Absolutely not! But I think that’s about the best most people can do unless they have the resources (time, energy, money, etc.) to do all their own research themselves. Unfortunately, I’m not one of those people.

So while in principle it may be a “no brainer” to want to stop “fake news,” “tainted news,” and “spin sites,” in reality it’s never going to happen—especially if we allow the “thought police” to determine for us what IS and what IS NOT fake news. If that day ever comes we can be sure that the only “facts” and “truth” we’ll ever get is what our controllers decide to feed us—and, sadly, I’m sure there are many who believe that that day has already come.

[Bob]

If one gets a chance take a listen to Zuckerberg's testimony and the various members grilling him, specifically about things such as who is going to deal with fake news, data mining. I agree what you say that using somebody whom you trust to be your news source is a way to quickly get information; in the earlier days, many a family would turn on Walter Cronkite (later we found out https://fair.org/extra/inside-bohemian-grove/7/).. Cronkite was a Bohemian grover right up there in the same camp as Bush.

from: https://fair.org/extra/inside-bohemian-grove/7/
Time Warner is not the only media corporation with Bohemian connections. The list of Fourth Estate bigwigs who have been members or guests is extensive: Franklin Murphy, the former CEO of the Times Mirror corporation; William Randolph Hearst, Jr.; Jack Howard and Charles Scripps of the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain; Tom Johnson, president of CNN and former publisher of the Los Angeles Times.

When Associated Press president Louis Boccardi spoke at one of the Grove’s “Lakeside Talks” about kidnapped reporter Terry Anderson (Spy, 11/89), he referred to his audience as men of “power and rank” and “gave them more details than he said he was willing to give his readers.”

Walter Cronkite, now (was) on the CBS board, hangs out at the same lodge at Bohemian Grove as George Bush and the former chairs of Procter & Gamble and Bank of America; Cronkite’s voice has served as the voice of the Owl of Bohemia, a fixture in the club’s mock-druidic rituals.

I find it more like what the fictional character Mulder would say, 'trust no one', find out for yourself.. and find out using the tools you have. Some will find out more accurately than others some will take the easier ways. At 66 also we are up there.. I don't take the easy way that's me. I have the patience, the determination to "find out" and if it can help others or help share with how I have used researching, I will let them know my techniques. The research techniques work for me. Get in there and verify for oneself in other words. A news article catching our attention to me means, go take a look at the source, do the research, find out for oneself.

I don't see it's hard to believe that possibly Soros has had something to do with 'pouring gas' so to speak over such a controversy about regulating news or information sites, or news feeds. I quoted one of Soro's comments from his own article.

The title in Soro's article apparently designed to reach out emotionally to the readers:

The Social Media Threat to Society and Security
Feb 14, 2018 GEORGE SOROS
It takes significant effort to assert and defend what John Stuart Mill called the freedom of mind.

And there is a real chance that, once lost, those who grow up in the digital age – in which the power to command and shape people’s attention is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few companies – will have difficulty regaining it.

If data (subject material) presented is spin/spun, emotionally manipulative, reality can easily be missed, and emotional buttons can be used - "heat of the moment", instead of rational objective viewing and understanding - the mind "emotionally triggered" by a 'clever emotional article' can focus on the emotional belief system, not necessarily 'reality'. Fake news, or spun news can do that. Who stands to gain, who stands to use manipulation to shape minds. (in other threads it was pointed out Hubbard utilized that realization to call for a "reactivity" (reactive 'mind'), and created a whole organization and belief system on dealing with emotional reactivity).

I suppose we can do a test in any fake news, or spun news to see what the "emotional" trigger level content is, and thereby have a suspicion about the veracity of the article.. http://library.fullcoll.edu/research-tips/fake-news/ - - the primary worry is people are not geared to perform,civic online reasoning, or the ability to sort is it real or is it spun or is it totally fake. It is not being taught. Stanford only recently is starting to do courses for those attending, to be able to find the skills to actually research properly, evaluate and come up with their own conclusions. Kids with their iPad's haven't had that luxury.

from http://garnpress.com/we-need-civic-o...n-our-schools/

Media Literacy is a 21st century approach to education. It provides a framework to access, analyze, evaluate, create and participate with messages in a variety of forms—from print to video to the Internet. Media literacy builds an understanding of the role of media in society as well as essential skills of inquiry and self-expression necessary for citizens of a democracy.

In the early days it was called "Yellow Journalism" - and with good research we could find the backers of the newspapers.. Later it was who is funding the radio stations, and later who is funding the television stations (and then news services), their programming of News Hour.. The background research gets us an understand of the WHO and the HOW.. to strong points to with anyone applying objective research would be able to connect dots.

Emotional "gas" pouring example:

Soros states this:
The current moment in world history is a painful one. Open societies are in crisis, and various forms of dictatorships and mafia states, exemplified by Vladimir Putin’s Russia, are on the rise. In the United States, President Donald Trump would like to establish his own mafia-style state but cannot, because the Constitution, other institutions, and a vibrant civil society won’t allow it.

The world’s leading thinkers and policymakers examine what’s come apart in the past year, and anticipate what will define the year ahead.

Not only is the survival of open society in question; the survival of our entire civilization is at stake.

Soros brings up the point about Unregulated mind manipulation by social media companies.. He compares such unregulation to the lure by Casinos to hook their 'guests'..

Soros states this:
Social media companies deceive their users by manipulating their attention, directing it toward their own commercial purposes, and deliberately engineering addiction to the services they provide. This can be very harmful, particularly for adolescents.

There is a similarity between Internet platforms and gambling companies. Casinos have developed techniques to hook customers to the point that they gamble away all of their money, even money they don’t have.

Something similar – and potentially irreversible – is happening to human attention in our digital age. This is not a matter of mere distraction or addiction; social media companies are actually inducing people to surrender their autonomy.

And this power to shape people’s attention is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few companies.

He (Soros) is apparently concerned that the power to manipulate is concentrated in the hands of a few..

reference: Stanford information literacy evaluation -

A Stanford University team won a lot of attention this week by releasing a study on how badly teenagers assess information online. “Evaluating Information: The Cornerstone of Civic Online Reasoning” examined more than 7,000 students to check their information literacy skills. The results?

at each level—middle school, high school, and college… young people’s ability to reason about the information on the Internet can be summed up in one word: bleak.

[W]hen it comes to evaluating information that flows through social media channels, they are easily duped. (emphasis in original)
from: https://bryanalexander.org/digital-l...iteracy-study/

Articles on that study https://sheg.stanford.edu/upload/V3L...2011.21.16.pdf

https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/dru...n%20Online.pdf