All I know is that people hide behind their key boards and fake profiles to attack anything and everything they disagree with often in a vicious and nasty way.

'...weaponizing pretty much everything that could be weaponized."

I think you are zeroed on the wrong culprit.

It is true that if you control access to information, you control the society.

FB and Google are controlling access to information.

However, political correctness and the entitlement mentality is what has created the need for weapons. SM simply allows those so included to segregate themselves into their desired echo chambers.

ONCE so immersed, these folks need to wear the T-shirt emblazoned with "I don't understand a single word you are saying."

Standing firmly on the ground of their entitlement, they are incapable of seeing their own transgression. The only see those not like them as their enemy. And for enemies, we need more weapons.

It won't get better until we are willing to open the front door and welcome a stranger inside. Will it begin with you?

PS: Don't blame the tools for a sickness within society.

they have all lost their luster 

I think it's a stretch IMHO.

Wow. Did she nail that dead on or what?

I haven't read this yet, but I will.  I do agree with the premise.

We are entering un-charted waters

Ron and Alexandra Seigel - love the phrase 'Digital Arms Dealers'! Sounds right at times. (I mean NY Times...)

No, I had not

So many opinions on this, would be nice to see solutions that work.

FB and the personalities that inhabit it are why I no longer involve myself with it - oh and the fact they censor the wrong people - figures!

   I don't read the NYT, so not yet.  Let me read your article, BBL. 

Sounds about right to me.

Too long to read fully, not a fan of the term "weaponize".  More accurate woudl be "FB has allowed those with mal intent to pervert the course of free and open discussion and to attempt to mold views to their needs."

Interesting ... 

Thanks for sharing this link.

Hadn't seen it but will take a look.

Interesting read and no I had not seen that before your share Thanks

Will have to come back to read when I have time.

Interesting. I will take a look. Or not. :)

No.

I had not