Hey zapper, thanks for the input. Some more thoughts from me: Privacy and security requires also a willing individual to look at data-issues. And for sure a big amount of media-competence is missing in these days as people think some imagery just being funny, while in fact they are more the complete opposite. One example is - as you already named through alt-right: The so-called "meme" for "Pepe the frog". I am always surprised when people use imagery from that point because they thought it look funny. And this is not only meant for this: In general I have not seen any kind of "meme" being more than shortening towards information and facts, so not helping for a good discussion. The only usage for "meme"-imagery is for provocation and the displacement of discourse culture. But to recognize this we need to be taught just more competence, especially also in history as you've said. Here is the point that people don't see the roots of words often correct: A prominent example is the word "idiot" which has many roots but also problems, because it is used just too simple instead to describe an ignorant and / or arrogant action as it is for sure. When looking back "idiot" is / was also used for people with disabilities and mostly ends up with ableism in the end. For sure many don't mean this in especially that way. And I've used the word only as an example!
But the point is about the so-called "modern communication": Just too quick usage of imagery and harsh words, no further interest for research and also no reflection what can be done better. Our global society seems to have a problem to admit failures from the ground up and there is so much done just to keep up some masquerade. The resulting charade is also one reasoning people loosing their hope or tend to go for more extreme reactions, which is done step by step and risen also through illusions and disgusting lies. But here comes the concept of a vicious circle into the playground: As I've said people needs also the will for a change. When there is no will to get something done, nothing is for sure changed for the better or even the opposite and it is going in endless circles of rising hatred. It would be helpful when people care more about their way to address things, reflect their actions and also words and in the end also look out for data - all data for sure. When we not care about own data, we also don't care about the data of others. And a global society being onto no privacy and security is able to do even more malevolent things instead change towards respect and as you've said taught correctly the whole truth.
Especially when it comes to the creation of so-called "fake news": I'd call them just lies, but lies are told very much onto the basis of propaganda instead of solid facts. But where is the difference between "marketing", "propaganda" or "friendly meant messaging"? We see those phrases going to be more fluid and having no further media-competence is very much appreciated for all participants to spread even more lies, making even more the parts fluid as all named words have for sure a clear definition.
More or less with the upcoming of (anti-)social platforms, with even more self-centered coccrease with the digital self-portrait we'll loose the ability to say what is correct and what is not. And a global society loosing that in combination with trust and hope is in any part not good. So I can only warn all for going down this way. We are all free to do, but we can also loose that all within moments. And democratic values are so important, same as the right for having all beings without any harm and suffering. Get on with competence, build it, reflect yourself, help others to reflect and safe the data. And a first step is to avoid especially shortened phrasing and messaging as mostly those don't help for any description or learning the whole situation. Shortening phrases, including "meme"-imagery, are used for simplified situations. But complex situations and facts cannot be simplified, they can be perhaps subdivided to have information one can read and learn better. In the end complexity stays there and when we try to explain something complex deterministic it will be in any case wrong. There are so many possibilities to simplify information or even white-washing horrors done in the past by just stating some parts while leaving the whole picture and consequences out.
Just because I understand computing-devices in some way I'm not able to understand all human interaction or the consequences or the complexity of consequences can have. But there we have the arrogance as many people are self-declaring themselves as "digital natives" and being therefore able to get all data within seconds. Another shortened phrase as it depends where to search, how to search and also getting all sources at once. So the global network can be helpful, but also just more of a problem in the same moment. I hope we get this point one day before it is too late in one way or another: Any authoritarian system using all parts of modern technology is more than only horror, any human society not caring about all members the same. I hope we get the point to deal with literally information-overflow and get important parts worked onto!
At last quotes from some very fitting movie The Great Dictator as Charlie Chaplin made important statements in the final speech:
(...) We want to live by each other’s happiness - not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way. (...)
(...) We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. (...)
(...) Don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! (...)
(...) Let us fight to free the world - to do away with national barriers - to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. (...)
So the global network can teach both and I think we have to confront ourselves with that: Is it helpful to be taught hatred and intolerance? To follow authoritarian ideas? Better to say clearly NO when it is needed and have clear statement. And freedom for ONLY one group of beings is not worth the name itself, as not being believable by itself and creates more suffering, so more lost of hope and more hatred. But start with words as people can be a lot evil, oblique, misery, liar, hypocrite, corrupt, murderer, hangman, racists, fascists, dirty and characterless. Name it clear, dear "people of the global internet". Do not use words taking humanity away, please do not! It all started and starts with words and then ends with more, breaking this circle as this was long before the global network used but we have always the chance to change this.
And for all readers thinking I'm just too over the edge: Just look onto the movies from the Purge-series, especially now the newest one. You should be able to recognize those problems I'm talking about and the newest one goes even further now, mixing all together with latest developments. You think hatred is just "something normal"? Well, think again. History has proven right straight what hatred can do, daily happenings on beloved earth show it also and you want to "play" with it? Playing with fire or literally bombs can be compared to that, same risk. And better to draw consequences and please correct ones as those movies show the deadly parts for a reason, they are nothing to be rebuilt and a clear warning from creators and actors. Respect the warning, as there are literally uncountable more from books, movies and many in other directions.
Human being in favor with clear principles and so also for freedom in soft- and hardware!
Certainly anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices: For a life of every being full with peace and kindness, including diversity and freedom. Capitalism is destroying our minds, the planet itself and the universe in the end!