When Platform Rules Meet Real Civility

I came across a Politico article this week about a bill in California that’s sitting on Gov. Newsom’s desk. It’s called SB 771, and it would fine big social media companies if their algorithms knowingly push violent or extremist content especially toward kids. Basically, if platforms keep feeding harmful content to users, they could be held accountable.

Reading about it made me stop and think about how closely this ties into the mission of the Institute for Civility. On the surface, a law about algorithms and fines might not seem connected to civility. But if you really think about it, it’s all part of the same conversation: what kind of culture are we creating online?

The truth is, laws can set boundaries, but they can’t teach empathy. Regulation might keep some of the worst content from spreading, but it won’t stop the everyday snark, hostility, and misinformation we see in comment sections or social threads. That’s where civility comes in.

At the Institute, we believe civility isn’t about being “nice” all the time, it’s about respect. It’s about pausing before we hit “share,” about pushing back against harmful speech without more harm, and about remembering there are real people on the other side of the screen.

So yes, this bill matters. Platforms should be held responsible for the content they amplify. But lasting change? That comes from us choosing civility, one interaction at a time.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/11/newsom-bill-violent-content-fine-00559909