Andrew Selepak, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Telecommunication lecturer and coordinator of the online master’s program with a specialization in social media, is quoted in “Trump Beats Facebook No Matter How Panel Rules, Experts Say” published on newsmax.com on May 5.

The article features a decision by the Facebook Oversight Board to possibly reinstate former President Trump’s Facebook account.

“It’s a big day,” said Selepak. “The oversight board is looking at something of great significance. This is obviously something that is vastly different from any decision they have made in the past in terms of size and scope.”

If Trump is reinstated, Selepak predicts the former president will do a “victory lap” of vindication against big tech and pressure other platforms that banned him to follow Facebook’s lead. If not, he expects a Republican-led backlash to be launched against big tech.

“Being de-platformed makes Trump a victim of social media and gives him a greater voice against it than if he was simply allowed back on,” Selepak said.

“Because Trump is now a private citizen, Facebook can more easily justify its decision to uphold the ban by arguing he isn’t entitled to the same leeway as a sitting world leader,” said Selepak.

The story was written by Marisa Herman, B.S. Journalism 2013.

Posted: May 10, 2021
Category: College News
Tagged as: Andrew Selepak