Remember the old telephone game? It’s killing us.

Social media has brought a lot of friends back into my life. I’m a diplomat’s son so my friend circle extends out to places like South Africa, Australia, and Europe. Thank you, social media. But that’s not the major impact on the world social media brings.

Social media is powered mostly by negativity. Nothing new there. Gossip is a time-honored human tradition. Social media is a blend of gossip and the old telephone game. That’s a great game. We used to crack up playing that as kids. We didn’t realize we were being taught the effect of massive social media platforms.

Springfield, Ohio is a social media victim. One woman, who now regrets her post, posted about people eating pets. A neonazi group called Blood Tribe blasted the post out until it landed on the loose lips of a presidential candidate on national TV.

Ugly racism has now joined misogyny, disinformation, and incitement on the campaign trail.

I don’t believe America is split on our basic values. I don’t believe we’re on the brink of Civil War. But I do believe unless the titans of social media stop using their platforms as a sort of super-charged telephone game, we’re in deep trouble.

I also believe we’re in a Post-Ethics Culture, so I’m not holding my breath expecting any change from the Silcon Titans.