Who Should Be Allowed to Speak on Important Topics?

In today's world, social media influencers have a big say in what people think. But should they be allowed to talk about any topic, even if they're not experts? Some countries, like China and South Korea, are trying to limit who can discuss certain subjects online. China has introduced a new rule. It says that if someone wants to talk about complex topics like health, finance, or law on live streams, they need to show they have the right qualifications. This rule has been around since 2022, but now China is making sure it's followed strictly. If influencers break this rule, they could face hefty fines. South Korea is also considering new rules. They want to stop foreigners from entering the country if they've made hateful or disrespectful comments about South Korea online. This comes after a few incidents where foreign influencers posted false or offensive content about the country. Both countries are trying to prevent the spread of false information and maintain social stability. This is interesting because, in the U. S. , the situation is quite different. The U. S. is giving more freedom to influencers, even those who spread false information. For example, Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, has loosened its rules on what people can post. Some U. S. politicians believe that less control over content is better. They think this will help them reach more people with their messages. But giving more power to influencers who spread false information can be risky. It can lead to more people believing conspiracy theories and false news. In a democracy, free speech is important. But should there be limits on what influencers can say, especially when they're not experts? This is a big question. In the West, people often say, "It's just talking" or "It's just asking questions. " But words can have power. They can influence people's opinions and even their votes. In the U. S. , some politicians have convinced their supporters that mainstream media can't be trusted. This has led to more people believing false information. Meanwhile, in Asia, countries are trying to control the spread of false information. This shows a big difference in how different parts of the world handle media and free speech.