A Blueprint for Prosocial Technology: Combating Misinformation and Polarization in the Digital Age
The pervasive influence of social media has cast a long shadow over the democratic landscape, threatening to unravel the very fabric of self-governance both in the United States and globally. Lisa Schirch, the Richard G. Starmann, Sr. Professor of the Practice of Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs, argues that the current digital environment, characterized by rampant misinformation and toxic polarization, poses a significant risk to democratic institutions and processes. However, Schirch and a team of technologists have identified a potential solution: the development and implementation of "prosocial technology"—technology designed to prioritize trust, cooperation, and constructive problem-solving.
Schirch unveiled her findings and proposed policy blueprint at Notre Dame’s National Convening on Social Media and Democracy, a gathering of leaders from government, industry, and academia. The convening, spearheaded by the Notre Dame Democracy Initiative in partnership with the Council for Responsible Social Media and Issue One, aimed to catalyze policy changes to redirect the trajectory of social media towards fostering healthy civic engagement, improving understanding of political issues, rebuilding trust in public institutions, and bridging the divides that characterize contemporary political discourse. The blueprint, a culmination of eight years of research and consultation by the Council on Technology and Social Cohesion, which Schirch co-founded, synthesizes insights gathered from numerous workshops with hundreds of experts.
Contrary to the prevalent focus on individual bad actors as the primary source of online toxicity, Schirch points to user experience (UX) design as the core problem. She argues that deliberate design choices, often driven by profit maximization, prioritize engagement and virality over societal well-being. These design choices frequently amplify problematic content that exploits users’ fear and anger, leading to the spread of misinformation and the entrenchment of polarized viewpoints. The algorithmic amplification of divisive content contributes to a cycle of negativity, making it difficult for individuals to exercise healthy skepticism and fostering distrust towards those with differing political perspectives.
The consequences of this dynamic are far-reaching, extending beyond online platforms and impacting real-world political discourse and democratic processes. The erosion of trust in institutions, the proliferation of misinformation, and the intensification of political polarization represent significant threats to democratic stability. The urgency of the situation was underscored by former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt, co-chair of Issue One’s Council for Responsible Social Media, who warned of the potential demise of democracy if the current trajectory remains unchecked.
Schirch’s policy blueprint offers a comprehensive framework for addressing the challenges posed by the current digital environment. The blueprint focuses on three key areas: advancing prosocial technology design, establishing foundational governance for digital platform research, and shifting market forces to support prosocial design. Specific recommendations include implementing a tiered certification system to incentivize responsible platform design, establishing minimum technology design building codes akin to building codes in the physical world, supporting third-party services that empower users to control their data, requiring democratic oversight and audits of platforms to enhance transparency, developing standardized metrics for evaluating prosocial technology, and enforcing safe harbor protections for independent researchers studying the impact of platforms.
The proposed framework emphasizes the importance of collaboration between government, civil society, and the private sector. By creating incentives for these stakeholders to work together on proactive governance, the blueprint aims to address platform design issues and hold technology companies accountable for their impact. The ultimate goal is to foster a more productive and less polarized public discourse that empowers citizens to find common ground, bridge divides, and work collaboratively to address critical challenges.
Schirch’s work builds upon a broader effort at the University of Notre Dame to study and strengthen democratic institutions. The Notre Dame Democracy Initiative, the Keough School of Global Affairs, and various research centers across campus are contributing to this interdisciplinary endeavor. This collaborative effort seeks to create a sustainable foundation for research and policy development in the realm of democracy and technology, extending beyond the recent convening and fostering long-term impact.
The underlying principle driving this work is the recognition that technology is a tool that can be wielded for either constructive or destructive purposes. The choice, Schirch emphasizes, is ours. By prioritizing prosocial design principles and implementing effective governance mechanisms, we can harness the power of technology to strengthen democracy and promote a more informed, engaged, and cohesive society. The policy blueprint provides a roadmap for navigating the complex challenges of the digital age and building a future where technology serves the interests of democracy and human flourishing.