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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFormer US President Barack Obama has warned against the irresponsible use of social media, in a rare interview since stepping down in January.<\/p>\n
He warned that such actions were distorting people\u2019s understanding of complex issues, and spreading misinformation.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of us in leadership have to find ways in which we can recreate a common space on the internet,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Obama was quizzed by Prince Harry on BBC Radio 4\u2019s Today programme.<\/p>\n
Prince Harry, fifth in line to the throne, is one of several prominent figures who are guest-editing the programme over the Christmas period.<\/p>\n
Obama on the extremes of social media<\/h2>\n
The former president expressed concern about a future where facts are discarded and people only read and listen to things that reinforce their own views.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the dangers of the internet is that people can have entirely different realities. They can be cocooned in information that reinforces their current biases.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe question has to do with how do we harness this technology in a way that allows a multiplicity of voices, allows a diversity of views, but doesn\u2019t lead to a Balkanisation of society and allows ways of finding common ground,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Obama\u2019s successor Donald Trump is a prolific user of Twitter, but Mr Obama did not mention him by name.<\/p>\n
Mr Trump has been accused of overusing Twitter and following only a narrow range of users, though he maintains it allows him to connect directly with the American people.<\/p>\n
Mr Obama suggested face-to-face contact would help counteract extreme views.<\/p>\n
\u201cSocial media is a really powerful tool for people of common interests to convene and get to know each other and connect.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut then it\u2019s important for them to get offline, meet in a pub, meet at a place of worship, meet in a neighbourhood and get to know each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause the truth is that on the internet, everything is simplified and when you meet people face-to-face it turns out they\u2019re complicated.\u201d<\/p>\n
What were the pressures of being president?<\/h2>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard, being in the public eye is unpleasant in a lot of ways. It is challenging in a lot of ways.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour loved ones are made vulnerable in ways that might not have been true 20 years ago or 30 years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it is a sacrifice that I think everybody has to be at peace with when they decide to go into politics. But, ultimately, I think the rewards of bringing about positive change in this world make it worthwhile.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Obama pays tribute to the support of his family, especially his wife Michelle, describing how glad he is that she was \u201cmy partner throughout that whole process\u201d.<\/p>\n
And leaving office?<\/h2>\n
Mixed feelings given \u201call the work that was still undone\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cConcerns about how the country moves forward but, you know, overall there was serenity there,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Mr Obama compared his time in office to being a relay runner.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you ran hard, you did your best and you were able to pass that baton successfully and the world was a little better then you had done your job.\u201d<\/p>\n
He cites Obamacare \u2013 ensuring more people can afford basic healthcare \u2013 as a major achievement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat an enormous blessing it is to say that 20 million Americans have health insurance that didn\u2019t have it before.\u201d<\/p>\n
How does he see the future?<\/h2>\n
Without dismissing the problems faced by the world, he remains an optimist.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we take responsibility for being involved in our own fate, if we participate, if we engage, if we speak out, if we work in our communities, if we volunteer, then all the problems that we face are solvable despite all the terrible news that you see.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you had to choose a moment in human history in which you\u2019d want to be born you\u2019d choose today because the fact is that the world is healthier, wealthier, better educated and more tolerant, more sophisticated and less violent.\u201d<\/p>\n
What does Prince Harry have to say?<\/h2>\n
As well as editing, Prince Harry is himself interviewed on Today.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t done that many interviews but it was quite fun, especially interviewing President Obama despite the fact he wanted to interview me.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a big learning curve but also these are incredibly important topics we all need to think about and need to be discussed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The prince\u2019s programme focused on issues such as the armed forces, mental health, youth crime and climate change.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n
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