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Internet Activists Officially Abolishes Due Process After Reading Instagram Post
Innocent Until Posted: The Rise of Social Media Justice. Truth now determined by likes, shares, and comment sections rather than evidence.
The internet has decided that due process is unnecessary, and thousands of social media users have cracked a complex sexual assault case at (a prestigious) university by analysing Instagram stories, TikTok comments, and accounts with all caps. The controversy has begun after allegations have been made by a former student at ******* dubbed '**** ***,’ and social media users have taken it upon themselves to investigate and come to a verdict.
"Who would ever need a trial? Someone had a post with 40,000 likes! 40,000 people can’t be wrong, can they?" said student activist Madison Parker, who recently graduated with a degree in gender studies. Parker, a passionate justice seeker, has done lots of research into the case, including reading three Instagrams, two TikToks, and a very convincing comment section.
Some student groups have suggested that they should move to trial by Instagram poll. This means anyone accused of a crime will have 15 seconds to defend their case on their Instagram story. Proponents of trial by Instagram poll have argued that it will save billions of pounds of taxpayers' money. No one will need to pay for costly lawyers and lengthy investigations. Why take months to look at evidence when everyone on social media can find out who is guilty in less than 20 seconds?
However, some are not convinced. Critics have argued that finding who is guilty on social media may not be the fairest. "I don’t like that! So you think sexual assault is fine?" said Parker. A reporter attempted to explain that whilst they may take sexual assault allegations seriously, they think those accused should still have due process. Parker did not seem pleased with this answer and asked to be taken off the article.
Other legal scholars are concerned that people are making this an opinion-based issue when it has always been an evidence-based issue. Harvard law professor Andrew Fostiropoulos said that the courts have always needed evidence to convict someone. "It’s a very simple idea. Innocent until proven guilty. Somehow it’s become controversial," said Fostiropoulos.
Presumption of innocence has been a staple part of the American justice system for a long time, but some student activists think it’s time for an upgrade. "Due process existed before Instagram. We have evolved as a society, so we should use our technology to make judgments more advanced," said Parker.
Students have suggested abolishing juries as social media influencers are more credible. They argue that someone with hundreds of thousands of followers must be more trustworthy than 12 random people. "If someone has 200,000 followers, it’s obvious they are trusted to make decisions on important matters. Shouldn’t we trust them to decide court cases?" said one supporter.
Online commentators have made it clear that there is no middle ground in this situation. If you want to see evidence first, you’re expected to state your side. "There is no middle ground. You’re either with us or with them," said Brandon Ellis a campus activist. When asked if you could support the alleged victims but also stand up for the rights of those accused, Ellis thought for a moment and said: "That’s what a guilty person would say".
Despite the criticisms, they seem to think they have come up with a much more efficient system. Waiting for investigations and hearing both sides of the argument seems like a pointless waste of time when social media can give you instant answers. "They always tell me to wait for the facts. But I’ve already shared 12 stories about ESSAY not SA. I’m far too invested," said Parker.
At the time of publishing this article, thousands of internet users will be sharing their final verdict after watching a 30-second video called "EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW " made by an anonymous account with a cartoon frog as their profile picture. The video had no citations. The video gained 2.3 million likes.
Justice, apparently, has been served.
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