In today’s post-truth information ecosystem, Elon Musk is merely the chief troll. One level below him are the influencers, podcasters and purveyors of so-called alternative media, quoting each other and cheering each other on. Along with their constant broadsides against diversity, the left and "wokeism,” they are also fond of attacking the "established” or "old” media.

Targeted misinformation has always been a political tool, particularly during campaign season. "Lies are often much more plausible, more appealing to reason, than reality, since the liar has the great advantage of knowing beforehand what the audience wishes or expects to hear,” wrote political philosopher Hannah Arendt half a century ago in her essay "Lying in Politics.”

But the article says nothing about keeping US commercial social networks responsible for the content they are hosting and spreading.