Why “the 26 words that created the internet” are under fire

Social media was once hailed a great democratizing force. But in an era of disinformation and the growth of hate groups, there has been a shift in thought from both liberals and conservatives. What is the civic responsibility of companies like Facebook and Twitter?

Back in 1996, when the World Wide Web was just beginning to revolutionize the ways human beings could communicate, many of those helping to build the emerging online tech industry were filled with a boundless sense of optimism.

The core of this optimism was the confidence...