Recent weeks have been obscenely alarming about the discourse online on how each event is treated. News networks and social media networks are responsible for moderating how they manage their content distributed to the masses. Yet, what seems to be happening is that there’s a disconnection and no accountability at all when influencers, or people going to social media to celebrate deaths of their adversaries.

If we can move past the chaos coming from both sides of the aisle—yes, both sides—the focus for the next few years should be on holding social media networks and news outlets accountable. Freedom of speech doesn’t and shouldn’t mean freedom from consequences. Whataboutism was never, ever, a counterpoint of any discourse of trying to justify this behavior.

Ignoring the issue isn’t a solution. You either take action and start moderating these groups of people, regardless of party affiliation, or contribute to further dehumanizing them for the sake of profit.

If you start shouting “censorship” after either calling for someone’s death or celebrating it, you should be entirely removed from the platform. After all, it’s a private platform governed by policies and agreements that you agree to when using it.

There should be zero tolerance for vigilantes or embracing this behavior.

Is it really okay to exploit every tragic event where a life is lost just to gain followers or criticize others’ views? That in itself is madness. We absolutely shouldn’t do this. It’s hard to even comprehend how wrong that is. For those claiming to “want to create a better society” or to “preserve traditions and take a conservative approach,” both sides seem to choose the worst ways to prove their points.

Featured image by Maria Popova.