By Erich H. Horst | September 11, 2025 In an era where a single tweet can spark a global conversation—or ignite real-world violence—social media's promise of connection feels increasingly hollow. Once a tool for bridging divides, platforms like X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Discord, Rumble, and Facebook now amplify hate, misinformation, and bullying, often under the banner of "free speech." This tension isn't just a tech glitch; it's a societal crisis demanding urgent reflection. Drawing from a recent in-depth dialogue on these issues, this article explores how Section 230 shields platforms from accountability, how the First Amendment's protections are being misunderstood, the delicate balance between free expression and censorship (with a transatlantic twist), and why digital literacy emerges as our best defense. As we mark the one-year anniversary of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) in 2025, the stakes for global discourse have never been higher. B...

  Social media platforms like X, TikTok, and Instagram have reshaped communication, culture, and crime, creating unprecedented challenges for the criminal justice system. Law enforcement, courts, judges, and attorneys often lack the technical expertise to handle social media-related cases effectively, exposing systemic weaknesses in adapting to digital realities. Attorneys, in particular, struggle to understand modern technologies and convey their complexities to judges, compounding the system’s inefficiencies. While cybersecurity issues, such as court system hacks, exacerbate these problems, social media’s unique dynamics—ephemeral content, privacy barriers, and pervasive influence—reveal a justice system unprepared for the digital age. Through recent legal cases, this article examines these shortcomings and calls for urgent reform. 1. Law Enforcement’s Struggles with Social Media Evidence Social media offers law enforcement a wealth of evidence, from geotagged posts to incriminat...