Compare And Contrast Essay On Fahrenheit 451

In Fahrenheit 451 a fictional novel by Ray Bradbury and in the non-fiction article “The {Divisive, Corrosive, Democracy-Poisoning} Golden Age of Free Speech” by By Tufekci Zeynep, the question of whether various approaches to free speech can promote or harm the interests of a society, given technological considerations. By drawing conclusions from both written pieces, the result is that when considering technology, free speech can harm the interests of society. In general, individuals in a society wish to get along with one another as well as possible. However, with the help of social media and other technological advances its is easier than ever to fight with other individuals and to believe that one is correct. People fight on social media and claim that they are allowed to say anything because of ‘free speech’. The internet has allowed for many great advances in data storage and availability, but these positive aspects are checked by the negative ones, namely, how easily lies are spread and …show more content…
It can bring attention to those who need a voice, but it can also be a breeding ground for lies. Individuals claiming they have an ‘inside source’ or photos that put a person in a ‘compromising situation’, can, if the information is interesting or surprising enough, spread their false statements around the globe and create an uproar. Tufekci Zeynep wrote, “it is a golden age of free speech—if you can believe your lying eyes. Is that footage you're watching real? Was it really filmed where and when it says it was? Is it being shared by alt-right trolls or a swarm of Russian bots? Was it maybe even generated with the help of artificial intelligence?” (Zeynep). Misinformation is not illegal, in fact, it is protected by free speech. In our “golden age of free speech” (Zeynep), individuals do not know whether what they read is truth or fact, many take everything they believe as true. This can seriously affect society's