They shout at their cameras
…turn them off
Say you should be afraid
…turn them off
Smearing people and places
…turn them off
Bearing dubious threats

They troll for the sound bites
…turn them off
Fan the flames to pad fan clicks
…turn them off
As long as they’re trending
…turn them off
That’s the reason they exist

They constantly move goalposts
…turn them off
Point our eyes to remote lies
…turn them off
Spin our friends into foes
…turn them off
Until social conscience dies

But we have special power
…turn it on
Healthier influence, too
…turn it on
Yielding empathy and truth
…turn it on
Building a more genuine worldview

If you like this, take a look at some of my companion poems:

Going Trolling
Just One