Biden Asserts Social Media Platforms "Are Killing People"

President Joe Biden on Friday criticized social media platforms like Facebook for spreading misinformation about the coronavirus and vaccines, as his administration has blamed them for stalling U.S. vaccine rates.

"They’re killing people," Biden said when asked what his message was to social media platforms like Facebook on the spread of false and misleading claims about the virus and the safety of vaccines that prevent it.

"The only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated, and that’s — they’re killing people," he continued.

NBC News reports Facebook took issue with the president.

"We will not be distracted by accusations which aren’t supported by the facts," a company spokesman said. "The fact is that more than 2 billion people have viewed authoritative information about COVID-19 and vaccines on Facebook, which is more than any other place on the internet. More than 3.3 million Americans have also used our vaccine finder tool to find out where and how to get a vaccine. The facts show that Facebook is helping save lives. Period.”

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Thursday issued his first advisory raising alarm about the growing wave of misinformation about Covid-19 and related vaccines that threatens the administration's efforts to quell the pandemic.

'They're killing people': Biden condemns Covid misinformation on Facebook https://t.co/zjbWZvShB2 via @nbcnews

— Tom Benson (@Tombenson1) July 17, 2021

White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday also said Facebook was not doing enough to stop the spread of false information on the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, FOX News reports the president's hyperbolic rhetoric was slammed on Twitter. 

"@POTUS is right about Big Tech’s role, he’s just pointing his finger at the wrong problem," Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. reacted. "It’s their suppression and censorship of early treatment that has cost lives. Social media should have been an open forum for solutions, instead it has become a tool for Big Brother."

"Are social media companies also guilty of 'killing people' if they allow content encouraging people to be obese, to consume fatty junk food, content which glorifies cigarette smoking and large amounts of alcohol consumption and a sedentary lifestyle?" journalist Glenn Greenwald wondered.