When the media writes about social media, what they mean is Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. None of these serve to democratize access to the general public given all those filters anymore than "letters to the editor".

Power to the people to express themselves? Give everybody the means to operate a self-hosted blog (that is, they and _only_ they are responsible for what is said and how).

>breaking the media monopoly

Is more competition for imposing a narrative on the lives of others really what we need? It seems to inhibit individual users critical thoughts which would undermine democratic efficacy.

Have you met the people?