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Obama warns of social media's corrosive effects
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Former US President Barack Obama gestures as he speaks at an innovative communications conference organized by Les Napoleons network group, where he appears as a guest of honor, in Paris, on Dec.2.
(AFP/Martin Bureau)
F
ormer US President Barack Obama said in an interview with Britain's Prince Harry he is concerned that social media is "corroding civil discourse", in his first interview after leaving the White House.
Obama said as quoted by The Telegraph that people in a position of power should exercise care when posting messages on social media.
Although Obama did not mention his successor Donald Trump by name, he said that social media is "corroding civil discourse" and stopping normal conversations.
In the interview, the 44th president also looked back on the day he handed over power to Trump and despite feeling satisfied he says it was "mixed with all the work that was still undone". He added: "Concerns about how the country moves forward but, you know, overall there was serenity there."
The interview between Harry and Obama was recorded in Toronto in September during the Invictus Games and will be broadcast on December 27.
In a teaser video for the interview posted by BBC Radio 4, Obama joked to Harry if he should use English accent in the interview.
"Do I need a British accent?" Obama quipped.
'Do I need a British accent?' @BarackObama is interviewed by Prince Harry for his guest edit of @BBCr4today. In this warm-up, the prince jokingly warns the ex-president he'll get "the face" if he pauses too long between answers #r4today pic.twitter.com/2887dGlJkG
— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) December 17, 2017
