Maria Ressa delivers the Commencement Address | Harvard Commencement 2024

Summary

The speaker, addressing Harvard's class of 2024, reflects on the challenges of today's world, emphasizing the impact of technology on democracy, truth, and societal division. Sharing personal experiences from the Philippines, they highlight how social media has fueled misinformation, violence, and authoritarianism. Despite facing threats and imprisonment for journalistic work, the speaker encourages graduates to fight for truth, integrity, and democracy. They advocate for choosing one’s best self, turning crises into opportunities, and embracing vulnerability. The speech urges collective action to build a more compassionate, equal, and sustainable world, warning that the fight for facts and integrity is a battle that must be waged together.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The speaker is addressing the class of 2024 at Harvard, acknowledging their challenges during the pandemic and their resilience.
• 🌍 The world has gotten worse since 2021, with rising dystopian challenges and the rapid impact of technology.
• 💻 Technology, especially social media, has accelerated conflicts, violence, and polarization globally, with examples like the Capitol Hill violence and Russian disinformation in 2016.
• 📱 The Philippines was used as a testing ground for social media platforms, and the speaker highlights the damage caused by power, money, and disinformation.
• 🛑 The speaker personally experienced severe online attacks, hate messages, and even arrest in the Philippines for exposing the truth and holding power accountable.
• 🔍 Without facts, there is no truth, trust, or democracy—an essential theme in the fight against disinformation and the integrity of information.
• 🔥 The speaker warns of an ongoing global erosion of democracy, with many nations now under autocratic rule and tech companies exacerbating the issue.
• ⚖️ There is a pressing need for justice and accountability, as powerful entities operate with impunity, undermining democracy and institutions worldwide.
• 🤝 The speaker emphasizes three core principles: choose your best self, turn crisis into opportunity, and be vulnerable to foster meaningful change and rebuild trust.
• 🛡️ The battle for democracy and integrity is ongoing, and each individual, especially the class of 2024, must stand together to shape a more compassionate and just world.

Q & A

What is the speaker's main message to the class of 2024?

The speaker encourages the class of 2024 to face challenges head-on, emphasizing the importance of standing up for democracy, choosing their best selves, turning crises into opportunities, and being vulnerable to foster trust and collaboration.

Why does the speaker compare the current world to a dystopian science fiction setting?

The speaker describes the world as dystopian due to the rapid and destabilizing changes brought on by technology, social media, and global crises, leading to disinformation, violence, and a breakdown of trust and democracy.

How did the pandemic impact the class of 2024 according to the speaker?

The pandemic disrupted the class of 2024's high school graduation and their first year of university, forcing them into lockdowns, mask-wearing, and online learning, while highlighting many existential global issues.

What role does the speaker believe technology plays in today’s societal issues?

The speaker argues that technology, particularly social media, has accelerated conflict, division, and disinformation, often being manipulated for power and profit, which undermines public discourse, democracy, and trust.

What personal experiences does the speaker share to illustrate the dangers of disinformation?

The speaker recounts being a target of online attacks and disinformation, facing arrest, threats, and false accusations in the Philippines for reporting the truth, showing how disinformation can be weaponized to silence journalists and destroy trust.

How does the speaker connect events in the Philippines to global issues?

The speaker draws parallels between the disinformation campaigns in the Philippines and those used in countries like the United States, where similar tactics have been employed, such as during the 2016 U.S. election and the Capitol Hill riots.

What are the three lessons the speaker wants the graduates to take away?

The speaker advises the graduates to (1) choose their best selves by staying true to their values, (2) turn crises into opportunities, and (3) embrace vulnerability to build stronger connections and solutions.

Why does the speaker believe social media has harmed democracy?

The speaker argues that social media's design amplifies fear, anger, and disinformation, creating divisions and undermining trust in facts and democratic institutions, which has led to the erosion of democracy globally.

What solutions does the speaker propose to address the challenges posed by technology?

The speaker suggests reforming laws, such as the U.S. Communications Decency Act (Section 230), holding tech companies accountable, and fostering compassion and trust through vulnerability and collaboration.

Why does the speaker highlight the importance of vulnerability?

The speaker believes that vulnerability is key to restoring trust, building meaningful relationships, and creating solutions in a polarized world, as it allows people to lower their defenses and connect on a deeper level.