Researchers Propose Treating Social Media Like a Public Utility

A new academic paper argues that social media platforms should be governed as public utilities, not private corporations. The authors claim current models, like those under Section 230 and the EU's DSA, create a conflict of interest where profit from misinformation drives engagement. Their proposed framework would establish social media as sovereign digital infrastructure, governed by democratic oversight and transparent algorithms to prioritize public good over commercial incentives and mitigate societal harms.