[samharris.org]
It's just a big competition for our attention.

The impact remains to be seen.

It was a beginning. You have to start somewhere. Think of the first televisions-little choice, clunky, limited 3 channels, and had to use rabbit ears. Its evolution of social media platforms will continue into something we can't even imagine.

Just like any social gathering place there are posers then there is experience and intelligence just have to be able to interpret the signals in a better way.

I agree, it’s as if by giving a megaphone to people who felt they were ignored, unheard or voiceless are now just shouting into a chasm of anarchy. Or it becomes an echo chamber. Respectful discourse, where’d you go?

It's a social experiment of distraction and inactivity. We all tickety-tap on a keyboard, tablet, or phone. Expectation of satisfaction without actual action. It's only partially satisfying recognizing it.

The whole point is internet is open to all. If as you say, someone controls opinion or sway minds or are with no credentials yet asserting expertise, some one should counter them. No one stopped them from doing it. This what freedom of expression is. The problem is when a large majority play neutral. Being neutral can never be a choice. You need to take your stand.

It might be a quick blip but I doubt it. The technology behind it will change quickly but the direction has been set.