Sustainable Media Center Board Issues Public Letter on Political Violence and Disinformation
NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, September 23, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Sustainable Media Center (SMC), an independent nonprofit dedicated to protecting democracy from the harms of social media and disinformation, today released a public letter from its Board of Trustees and Advisors. The letter warns that unchecked lies and online outrage are fueling political violence and undermining trust in democratic institutions.
“Political violence doesn’t erupt in a vacuum,” said Steven Rosenbaum, Executive Director of the Sustainable Media Center. “It grows in a culture where disinformation spreads unchecked, where truth is devalued, and where social media platforms amplify anger over empathy. We cannot afford to look away.”
“Young people deserve a future where disagreement doesn’t escalate into violence,” said Emma Lembke, Director of Gen Z Advocacy at SMC. “This letter is a call to action for leaders, platforms, and policymakers to put truth and community above profit and division.”
The letter reflects SMC’s mission to build healthier digital spaces through intergenerational collaboration — combining the lived experience of Gen Z with the expertise of seasoned leaders in media, technology, and democracy reform.
PUBLIC LETTER
Political violence doesn’t erupt in a vacuum. It grows in a culture where disinformation spreads unchecked, where truth is devalued, and where social media platforms amplify anger over empathy.
At the Sustainable Media Center, we believe that protecting democracy means protecting truth—and creating online systems that strengthen community rather than destroy it. Gen Z deserves a future where disagreement doesn’t escalate into violence, and where media builds understanding instead of fueling division.
SIGNATORIES:
- Kyle Anderson
- Sanda Balaban
- Leanda Barrington-Leach
- Dawn Barber
- Andrew Behar
- William Berens
- Michael Brady
- Kevin Conroy
- Jaclyn Corin
- Hailey Denise Colborn
- Da’Taevyon Daniels
- Robbie Dornbush
- Missy Godfrey
- Rochelle Grayson
- David Hornik
- Ann Kirschner
- Jason E. Klein
- Seán Killingsworth
- Raffi Krikorian
- Yair Landau
- Emma Lembke
- Isabel Lo
- Jim Louderback
- Joy Marcus
- Gary Marcus
- Raziya Palmer
- Nicki Petrossi
- Trisha Prabhu
- Matt Prohaska
- Lee Rainie
- Evita Robinson
- Steven Rosenbaum
- David S. Rose
- Douglas Rushkoff
- Rus Sarnoff
- Avi Savar
- Ava Seave
- Eric Schurenberg
- Evan Shapiro
- Matthew Stevens
- Steven Strauss
- Jonathan Taplin
- Hannah Trauberman
- Rishad Tobaccowala
- Sherry Turkle
- Karen Watson
- Mark Walsh
- Michael Wheeler
- Ricardo Miranda Zúñiga
- Jessica Elefante
- Fred Goldring
- David Berkowitz
- Laura Chevalier
- Philip Sharpe
- Nick Plante
- Paige Conroy
- Eric Feinberg
- Kenneth Brock
- Nissa Syverson
- Claudia Erickson
- Kevin Wassong
- Noreen O’Loughlin
- Christian Borges
- Deborah De Simone
- Alicia Reynolds
- Paul J. Levine
- Paul J. Levine
- Paul J. Levine
- Rosie Jones
Click here to sign your name: HERE
