Monica Lewinsky: Social Media Companies ‘Must Do Better’ – Boston News, Weather, Sports



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(CNN) – Monica Lewinsky said on Tuesday that social media companies “have to do better” because the in-depth examination following new revelations from a Facebook whistleblower, who suggested that the social media giant knew its platforms were being used to spread hatred, violence and disinformation and tried to hide this evidence.

“I absolutely think all social media companies, even if they try, can definitely do better. And they have to do better, “Lewinsky told CNN’s Jake Tapper on”The head. “

Lewinsky, after years out of public view after becoming a figure of national fascination with her affair with then-President Bill Clinton, is now known as an activist against bullying and cyberbullying.

His comments follow a report by the wall street journal based on internal Facebook documents that show the company is aware of the “toxic” effects its platforms, especially Instagram, can have on young people. Former Facebook employee Frances Haugen testified in the Senate on Tuesday that company management knows ways to make Facebook and Instagram safer, but won’t do it “because they put their astronomical profits” ahead of people.

Facebook made a statement at the end of the hearing who sought to discredit Haugen.

Asked about social media companies and Haugen’s testimony, Lewinsky, who is executive producer of the upcoming HBO Max documentary “15 minutes of shame“, who examines public shame in the age of social media, said:” Our doc partially examines this online behavior that is happening and women and people from marginalized communities are much more torn online. So to come forward as a whistleblower in this sense is very courageous. “

She later added, “If you think of the stoning that happened long ago, the stone you pick up and throw into the storm of outrage is generally and often public humiliation and shame.”

“This is how we get angry. I mean, there are other ways of doing it too, but I think that’s where, you know, it all comes together, ”Lewinsky continued.

Renewed attention is also being paid to the affair that Lewinsky, then a White House intern, had with Clinton at age 22. The twists and turns of the scandal are dramatized in “Impeachment: American Crime Story”, A new FX series for which Lewinsky is the producer.

She said on Tuesday that it was important for the show not to do any “photoshopping” in her life. “I felt I shouldn’t get a pass as a producer. I think, first of all, that I shouldn’t get a pass in general. You know, I think it’s important to take responsibility for mistakes, and I’ve worked hard to overcome them, ”Lewinsky said.

“But especially with the show, there are so many people who worked hard on the show and it was important to me that the credibility of the show was there.”

Asked about Clinton’s portrayal on the show, Lewinsky said that “we see aspects of Bill that we have never seen before.”

The former president has reflected on his relationship with Lewinsky over the years, including in comments in 2018 where he seemed to be defending himself and suggesting that he did not owe Lewinsky an apology, saying at the time, “No, I don’t – I never spoke to him.” But I have said publicly on more than one occasion that I am sorry. It is very different. The apologies were public.

Clinton later admitted that the defense was not his “best time” and said he felt “terrible” that the case had defined Lewinsky’s life.

Lewinsky said on Tuesday: “I think what’s really important to remember in today’s world is that we never should have even gotten to a place where consent was an issue.”

“So that was totally inappropriate as the most powerful man, my boss, 49. I was 22, literally just graduated from college. And I think the power differences there are. something the consequences of which I could never imagine at 22 and which I obviously understand so differently at 48.

This story has been updated with additional details from Tuesday’s interview.

The-CNN-Wire
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