Blog #6: Antiwar Voices

 Strong views toward war aren't always as easy to hear on the internet for a number of reasons. First, online algorithms and recommendation systems tend to give more weight to content that gets clicks, likes, and participation. This can make news and stories that divide people more important than deep discussions of anti war views. Second, governments and special interest groups may use internet censorship and misinformation campaigns to make it hard for anti war voices to reach a wider audience. Also, there is a lot of information on the internet, which makes it hard for antiwar ideas to stand out. Lastly, the separation of online groups can make it harder for antiwar ideas to reach people who might not agree with them. Even with these problems, the internet is still a good way for antiwar activists to meet, organize, and spread their messages to people all over the world. 

Picture from: (https://www.freedomtoread.ca/resources/when-the-censor-comes/) 

Many major news sites are owned by large companies or wealthy people with hidden agendas and interests, and these interests can affect how these news sites report the news, which could make them favor pro-war or establishment views. As I was reading The American Conservative, a news website I have never come across before, one of the first headlines caught my eye. It stated “Despite failing in his attempt to save a defiant world, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has perhaps retained his sense of humor. With stories circulating that North Korea is providing Russia with arms, Sullivan insisted that this action is “not going to reflect well on North Korea and they will pay a price for this in the international community.” [...] When is the last time the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea worried what its neighbors, or even its presumed friends, such as China and Russia, thought about its behavior?” (https://www.theamericanconservative.com/failed-empire/ ). 

This was the first few lines of the article, and I ended up reading the entire thing because it really sparked my interest. I feel that many people my age would really enjoy reading more content like this article. The news is over saturated with pro war voices and pro government voices, and we don’t often get to read outside material that gives us this, however it is difficult because today, news sites often put the most importance on the stories they think will get the most attention. Sensational or conflict-driven stories might get more attention than complex talks of anti-war views, which might be seen as less interesting, however, I know that I would tune into the news far more often than I do if there were more anti war voices being pushed out to the people. I felt that the article that I read mentioned above was the most I have learned from the news in a very long time, which says a lot.