@MLClark hmmm. Lot to chew on, thanks.
Is ephemerality of social media content another consideration?
The saying "the Internet never forgets" isn't very apt* and I think attention spans are shorter. Hence maybe unconsciously (being generous) some folks feel empowered to say *whatever* and expect no lasting consequences.
*The Internet is not equipped for preservation in any real sense. No one could afford it. Will this post be available in 100 years? In 10? McCluhan's book will be.
@b4cks4w
Ephemerality vs. Posterity is interesting. Plenty of books are lost to time. Plenty of news broadcasts, radio shows, newspapers, & TV programs were simply discarded or taped over by their creators as a matter of course.
So I wouldn't say the internet is at all new in its fleeting nature - except that it makes pulling up records of speech *much* easier in the short term.
Free speech is generally considered in its moment, but the longterm implications of that quick recall matter too.