In April 2025 Congress passed the Take it Down Act.
The law made it illegal to publish (or threaten to publish) “intimate” pictures or videos of someone without their consent.
This is sometimes called “revenge porn.”
The vote was nearly unanimous (only two congresspeople voted against it). The President signed it shortly thereafter.
I just found out about it a few days ago, almost a year and a half later.
I don’t remember seeing anything about it on social media or in the news and I try to stay informed.
I don’t think there was any conspiracy to hide this news from me or other people.
I just think that common sense legislation is boring.
Podcasters didn’t think it would hold your attention long enough for them to tell you about the latest dietary supplement.
The media couldn’t figure out how to run ads around it for Geico and GLP-1 shots.
Politicians knew they couldn’t manufacture an enemy out of consensus.
When the world moved online, getting and holding people’s attention became the most profitable game around.
Conflict keeps our attention because it is interesting and it is frightening.
As a result, our collective online dialogue is being driven almost entirely by conflict.
But don’t be fooled: Just because conflict is all we hear about, doesn’t mean that conflict is all that there is.
If you can break away from the algorithm…
If you can look away from where everyone is pointing online…
If you can learn to ignore the person screaming the loudest…
You will still find a lot of good in the world.
Peace,
Ryan