Obama faces backlash after calling for 'regulatory constraints' on social media in viral video
A video of former President Barack Obama saying that the U.S. should experiment with new forms of journalism and government restraints on social media went viral on Wednesday, as critics blasted the former president's remarks.
"Part of what we’re going to have to do is to start experimenting with new forms of journalism — and how do we use social media in ways that reaffirm facts, separate facts from opinion. We want diversity of opinion; we don’t want diversity of facts," Obama said at the Connecticut Forum in June. Obama spoke to Heather Cox Richardson at the event, and noted her Substack newsletter.
A clip of Obama's remarks, posted by the X account Vigilant Fox, went viral on Wednesday as users criticized the former president’s suggestion of government regulation.
"We want diversity of opinion; we don’t want diversity of facts. How do we train and teach our kids to distinguish between those things, that I think is one of the big tasks of social media," Obama continued.
OBAMA WAS 'NOT HAPPY' WITH QUICK PELOSI ENDORSEMENT OF HARRIS, BOOK SAYS
"By the way, it will require, I believe, some government regulatory constraints around some of these business models — in a way that’s consistent with the First Amendment — but that also says, ‘Look, there is a difference between these platforms letting all voices be heard versus a business model that elevates the most hateful voices, or the most polarizing voices, or the most dangerous in the sense of inciting violence voices,'" he added.
Obama added, "That I think is going to be a big challenge for all of us that we’re going to have to undertake."
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton wrote that Obama was opposing the First Amendment and "wants to jail and fine Americans in an ‘experiment’ with government regulation of journalism."
General Mike Flynn posted an image advertising an Independent media event that he was involved in, and told Obama, "You're NOT invited."
"That he says this seriously, and does not understand the implications and the inevitable trajectory of such a concept, should make you ever more vigilant of the left's authoritarian desires," American Culture Project chairman and CEO John Tillman wrote on X.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
Obama is expected to hit the campaign trail for Democratic governors ahead of the 2025 elections.
Obama will headline rallies in New Jersey and Virginia — the only two states in the nation to hold gubernatorial contests the year after a presidential election — on Nov. 1, the Saturday before Election Day. And the Democratic National Committee announced an additional half-a-million dollar investment to "get out the vote."