Biden Warns of Social Media Manipulation in Final Address

President Biden Warns of Tech Oligarchy, Social Media Dangers in Farewell Address

In his farewell address to the nation Wednesday evening, President Joe Biden issued stark warnings about the concentration of power in America’s tech sector and the dangers posed by social media platforms abandoning fact-checking efforts. Speaking just five days before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House, Biden outlined concerns about the state of American democracy and information integrity.

“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden declared in his televised address.

Though he didn’t mention them by name, Biden’s comments appeared directed at tech billionaires who have amassed unprecedented influence over information flow in America. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, recently scaled back fact-checking operations on Facebook and Instagram while also donating $1 million to Trump’s campaign. Similarly, Elon Musk, who owns X (formerly Twitter) and Tesla, has positioned himself as a key supporter and potential influential figure in Trump’s upcoming administration.

The president specifically highlighted how abandoning factual verification on major platforms threatens the public’s access to reliable information. “Social media giving up on fact-checking” could significantly harm both information integrity and truth-seeking in America, Biden warned, adding that “the free press is crumbling” while giving way to an “avalanche of misinformation and disinformation enabling the abuse of power.”

Media industry analysts note that Biden’s comments come as traditional news organizations continue to face financial pressures and staff reductions, while social media platforms increasingly serve as primary news sources for many Americans despite minimal content oversight.

“The truth is smothered by lies told for power and for profit,” Biden continued, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability. “We must hold the social platforms accountable to protect our children and our families and our very democracy from the abuse of power.”

The president’s warnings reflect growing concerns about tech companies’ outsized influence on public discourse. Since Musk’s acquisition of Twitter in 2022, the platform has eliminated much of its content moderation infrastructure. Similarly, Meta has reduced its fact-checking operations while facing criticism for algorithm changes that some researchers say promote divisive content.

Beyond technology concerns, Biden used his final presidential address to advocate for specific constitutional reforms. He called for an amendment ensuring that “no president is immune from crimes that he or she commits while in office” – a thinly veiled reference to Trump, who was convicted of 34 felonies in March related to falsifying business records to conceal payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

The outgoing president also proposed establishing 18-year term limits for Supreme Court justices, addressing what many Democrats consider a legitimacy crisis following the Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Currently, justices serve lifetime appointments, which critics argue leads to increasingly partisan judicial selection processes.

Biden’s warnings about oligarchy and media manipulation echo concerns raised by media scholars and democracy watchdogs throughout his presidency. The growing consolidation of digital power among a handful of tech companies – several of which have aligned with the incoming administration – presents significant challenges for information ecosystems already struggling with polarization and declining trust.

As Biden prepares to leave office on January 20, his farewell address serves as both a reflection on his presidency and a cautionary message about emerging threats to democratic institutions that his successor will either address or potentially exacerbate.