I’m not one to give up easily but the restrictions on freedom of speech on most social media apps have done their trick! I’ve lost my appetite for creating content completely. And that was before TikTok took down one of my videos simply because I expressed an opinion that wasn’t to the US government’s liking. And THAT’S THE POINT!
I am not, have not and never will live in the United States of America! So why on Earth does their censorship affect us in the rest of the world? Just to be clear, the European Union (which I am a citizen of) has very clear rules about freedom of speech. It’s a fundamental right, but like all fundamental rights, it also has certain limitations. OBVIOUSLY! This is the point that seems to be impossible to comprehend in the US.
And for some inexplicable reason their censorship is somehow affecting how we in Europe are able to use social media these days… Make it make sense!
As Meta’s AI is scraping everything we create on their apps and TikTok is deleting any opinions that aren’t about hating women, I really don’t see much point in any of it anymore. I’m a woman with opinions! It is fortunate though, that I have a platform with a much wider reach than all of my social media accounts together that can’t be censored by a third party: this blog ♥
So, is there any point in creating content on social media anymore, unless you’re just sharing general content without opinions or agenda? Before we get to the point we must familiarise ourselves with the actual context of freedom of speech:
What’s the Point With Social Media Without Freedom of Speech?
The European Union provides a framework for freedom of speech in the Union. And each nation has their own laws about it. These laws often reflect the cultural and historical context of the nation. For example, in Finland racism is illegal but in Austria it isn’t.
Which is ironic considering that the moustache man came from that country. Clearly Austria has NOT learned from their history… which is very russian of them. Nonetheless, while freedom of speech is a protected right in the EU, it’s not absolute. There are some responsibilities and limitations, as there bloody well should be:
- Protection of Reputation: Individuals have the right to protect their reputation; defamation laws prevent false statements that could harm someone’s reputation.
- Hate Speech: Many European countries have laws against hate speech, which includes any form of expression that incites violence or discrimination against individuals or groups based on race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.
- Public Order and Safety: Speech that poses a threat to public order or safety can and should be restricted. This includes incitement to violence or terrorism (see how the US ignores this point and how that’s turned out?)
- Privacy Rights: The right to freedom of expression is balanced with the right to privacy; individuals cannot disclose private information about others without consent. F.ex. ‘doxing’, which would lead to charges in many European countries.
- Misinformation and Public Health: In certain contexts, such as public health crises, spreading misinformation can be restricted to protect public health and safety.
Regardless of where you are, you probably noticed that many of these points aren’t abided by anymore. Many countries have far right governments that spew hate speech on a daily basis without charges. The ‘justice state’ exists no more.
Nonetheless, we still have access to social media. And as the generations that grew up with the Internet, surely we can take our power back? Let’s look at why creating content on social media might still be worth our while despite all the censorship:
Letting our own creativity shine through all the shit
I don’t know about you but I am certainly a creative being! My chosen creative outlets are random dance breaks at home and writing. I also very much enjoy photography and taking random videos of my extraordinary life. And what’s great about social media, is the fact that I can share my photography and random videos to whoever wants to see them (because people do!)
At the end of the day, content creation is a form of self-expression. And that is something that can keep us going even under the hardest circumstances. We’re all creative in one way or another, creativity is not restricted. And what’s best, creativity isn’t bound by laws or regulations about freedom of speech.
So, whether you can actually publish your content on these restrictive apps, keep creating it! There is always a way to showcase your creativity to the world, social media is not the default option. And new apps will come along! Apps that are not censoring us like Meta or Apple or Google are.
Finding our own people and building a community
Despite the world falling apart around us, our lives still go on. And we try to do our best every day, no matter what the circumstances. Sometimes it can feel like we’re struggling on our own but that is not true! And that’s why it’s important to show up authentically at times like these.
Community is the keyword here: as long as we have each other we can get through whatever those twats in power try to throw at us! And social media is a brilliant way to attract and build that community of like-minded people. If you’re already active on social media you probably already have a community.
Now all we need to do is to support one-another, share resources and amplify each others’ voices like never before. Fascists are loud as fuck but so are we! They’ve been drowning us in their noise pollution, it’s time to drown them in ours in the name of actual freedom of speech!
Spreading awareness and providing an alternative narrative
While loads of content is being suppressed, even censored, we know how to get around it. Whether it’s by using a made-up word like ‘unaliving‘ instead of ‘killing’ because the algorithm can’t connect the dots like we can, there is still space for informative, even opinionated content. We just have to be more clever about how to utilise this limited version of freedom of speech.
Because we have to keep on spreading awareness on things that the “legacy media” refuses to address: the real issues. The issues that affect every single one of us in our everyday lives, like the climate crisis. Not immigrants, but billionaires hoarding all the wealth, etc.
The biggest cause of all of our problems today is the system we live in. We must fight capitalism and consider what could come after. Because here’s a fact many people want to avoid: capitalism is at its end. It was built as an unsustainable system, so it will collapse in the near future. And that means that money and everything we own will become worthless.
We need to use this moment to come up with and share diverse, alternative perspectives to prove to others – and ourselves – that there is life on the other side of this shit-show as well.
Documenting history as we live it
It is unfortunate but we are living in historic times right now. In 10 – 20 years kids will learn about everything we go through today, and they will be taught exactly what we were: “Never again”. And they’ll wonder why we made exactly the same mistakes as were made 100 years previously…
Is it too late to save this planet? Perhaps, but since we don’t know for sure, we might as well document what life is like right now. And hope that the future generations are better than us! I have hope in them. Especially in GenZ with their quiet quitting and human rights movements that Millennials never bothered with.
Remember that everything you put out into the internet stays there. Even if your videos are deleted by the social media platforms, they will remain in the world wide web. As such, they can be discovered again by future generations when they try to understand the context and struggles that we’re living through right now.
So, even if our freedom of speech is limited at the moment, our content is timeless, and thus worth creating and publishing!
Final Thoughts on Freedom of Speech Being Squashed on Social Media
There’s no denying, it’s a depressing time to be alive. But we mustn’t let all the awfulness in the world squash us. Because in fact we’re still okay! We’ve still got at least some freedom of speech left and tools to use it.
If you feel like there’s nothing you can do, then at least create content. Even if it’s just filming your day-to-day life, do it! As mentioned earlier, we are living in historic times right now and it’s important to record our experiences for future reference. And if straight-up rebelling seems too scary, you can create content to build a community or to inspire other people. In fact, that is rebellion too at times like these ;)
FAQ
What types of content are most commonly censored on social media platforms?
Censorship on social media often targets content that includes hate speech, misinformation, graphic violence, and explicit adult content. Today this list also includes political speech, especially that which criticizes government actions or policies. Algorithms and community guidelines are used to identify and remove such content, leading to the unintended suppression of legitimate expression.
How does censorship affect my ability to create content to express myself?
Censorship can create a chilling effects like content creators self-censoring to avoid having their posts removed or accounts suspended. It stifles creativity and limits the diversity of voices and perspectives online. Content creators may feel pressured to conform to platform guidelines, which can lead to a homogenization of content and a reduction in open dialogue.
What are the implications of censorship for public discourse?
Censorship can significantly impact public discourse by limiting the range of ideas and opinions that are shared. When certain viewpoints are suppressed, it can create echo chambers where only popular or mainstream opinions are heard. This can hinder critical discussions on important social, political, and cultural issues, ultimately affecting democratic processes and informed decision-making.
What can I do as a content creator to navigate censorship on social media?
Start by familiarizing yourself with the specific rules and community standards of each platform to avoid unintentional violations. Utilise multiple social media platforms to reduce reliance on a single platform, and build a loyal audience to maintain visibility and support. Join or support movements that advocate for digital rights and freedom of speech, help raise awareness about censorship issues and push for more transparent policies.
