Obama warns against 'irresponsible' social media use

Former US , has warned against the irresponsible use of social media, in a rare interview since stepping down in January.

He warned that such actions were distorting people's expertise of complicated issues, and spreading misinformation.

His successor Donald Trump is a prolific consumer of Twitter, however Mr Obama did no longer mention him by way of call.

Mr Obama was quizzed with the aid of Prince Harry on BBC Radio four's nowadays programme.

Prince Harry, 5th in line to the throne, is considered one of several prominent figures who're guest-modifying the programme over the Christmas length.

The ex-president stated those in positions of strength need to be cautious when posting messages, caution that social media is distorting civil discourse.

He expressed subject approximately a destiny in which information are discarded and those handiest examine and pay attention to things that reinforce their personal perspectives.

"one of the dangers of the net is that people may have absolutely extraordinary realities. They can be cocooned in facts that enhances their modern-day biases.

"The query has to do with how can we harness this technology in a way that permits a multiplicity of voices, lets in a variety of perspectives, however would not result in a Balkanisation of society and allows approaches of finding common floor," he said.

•     What guarantees has Trump saved as president?
•     Is Donald Trump triumphing?
•     'Don't remove our healthcare'

Mr Trump has been accused of overusing Twitter, although he keeps it allows him to attach immediately with the american human beings.
On handing electricity to Mr Trump, Mr Obama defined combined emotions, given "all of the work that changed into nonetheless undone".

"worries about how the us of a movements forward however, you know, normal there has been serenity there," he adds.

as well as editing, Prince Harry is himself interviewed on today.

"i have never done that many interviews but it turned into pretty fun, in particular interviewing president Obama in spite of the fact he desired to interview me.

"it is been a large mastering curve but also these are tremendously critical topics we all want to think about and want to be mentioned."

The prince's programme centered on problems together with the militia, intellectual fitness, youngsters crime and weather trade.