Platforming the 99%: Allowing Range in Mainstream and Social Media
Team
Name: Shichong Xie
Nationality: United States
Institution / Company:
Name: Jamie Li
Nationality: Canada
Institution / Company:
-FINALIST of FUTURE PUBLIC SPACE Competition
Times Square’s identity is a social hub, however, it is largely outdated with large ads paid for by the world’s largest transnational corporations. By transforming Times Square to a free internet zone, traditional mainstream media can allow a wider range of decentralized and non-discriminatory political participation between news anchors, pundits, and the audience. Together, we can break the relationship of policy decisions being biased by socioeconomic interests that only represent the 1%.
To facilitate the accuracy of information, both ends of the zone have a tower with people who fact checking filters, provides free access to the internet, and hosts smaller discussion spaces. The open space in Times Square is pedestrianized and can host larger gatherings of 5000+ people on the northeast side and small to medium discussions on specific topics on the southwest side. Platforming more forms of non-discriminatory discussions allows a direct access for the people’s participation and interpretation of policy issues during a variety of elections, not just the presidential elections.
#CitizenParticipation #PublicSpace #Demonstration&Revolution #DiversityInSocialMedia
