Facebook Regulation in Australia Essay Example

Facebook just like the other forms of social media should never be regulated. Regulation means to direct management of the platform as per the rules set forth by the government or other well-Kwon authority. Control of a social media platform such as Facebook will not augur well with most Australians who believe in freedom of expression. Some people have claimed that it is creating inequality, and spreading moral decay which is detrimental to the society. However, the most pressing issue that is fueling the push for Facebook's regulation.

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Despite Facebook's shortcomings, regulation is not the way to go. To begin with, Facebook is a private entity. As a private entity, any intervention by the government will be a fight against free enterprise which is among the founding principles of Australia. Government intervention is allowed in limited situations among which is; if the social network poses a direct security threat to the people of Australia. Facebook is a media company that plays a vital role regarding communication among Australians. Over the past decade, Facebook has gradually grown to establish itself as part of the Australian culture. To regulate it is likely to have unintended consequences regarding the flow of information in the country.

Facebook is a foreign-owned company. Its presence in Australia is part of global trade. As Bene (2018) explains, social media companies such as Facebook have a significant influence on global politics. Government intervention on the social media network will trigger repercussions on other sides of the world. Elections have been won and lost because of Facebook, should the current administration interfere, their poll rankings may depreciate.

When speaking about Facebook's regulation, one should consider the economic implications. Consider the taxes the government collects from the business operations of Facebook both directly and indirectly.

There are media benefits that small businesses get from Facebook's presence in Australia. Small businesses create Facebook pages about their sites, the kind of services they offer or the product they sell. Facebook provides cheap advertising for companies that cannot afford to pay for newspaper or television advertisements.

On the social front, Facebook is the true representative of freedom of expression in Australia. Facebook allows people to speak out their mind and offer criticism whenever possible and learn from the information present on the platform(Kirschner, 2015). Government regulation will spread fear and will be deemed by Australians as a direct attack on freedom of the media. The number of users will decrease hence reducing the number of consumers that can access various advertisements.

Therefore, Facebook is a very crucial site on the social, and economic structure of Australian society. The site enhances specified marketing chances for businesses. The taxes that the government collects from Facebooks' operations are significant and a significant boost to the economy. It also improves communication and spread of information throughout the country. Facebook supports freedom of the expression and the press by making every Australian a potential reporter provided they have a phone and a camera. Facebook reinforces the freedom of speech; its regulation could spell damnation for that right.

References

Bene, M. (2018). Post Shared, Vote Shared: Investigating the Link Between Facebook Performance and Electoral Success During the Hungarian General Election Campaign of 2014. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 1077699018763309.

Kirschner, P. A. (2015). Facebook as a learning platform: Argumentation superhighway or dead-end street?. Computers in Human Behavior, 53, 621-625.