Major social media platforms continue to strike at and censor content from those whose politics are deemed threatening or offensive, and conservatives are increasingly frustrated.
During a Sunday interview with CNN’s Brian Stelter, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey claimed his company does not discriminate against political viewpoints. In the next breath, however, he admitted the company’s bias is “more left-leaning.” As humans, it’s impossible for us to keep our preferences to ourselves. At some point, those opinions color how we view both our personal and professional worlds. Facebook, the largest of the social media giants, recently came under fire for completely removing content from provocateur Alex Jones and his site, Infowars. Just last week, the company labeled two conservative PragerU videos as “hate speech” and censored their content. Later, Facebook admitted to having made a mistake and subsequently restored the videos in question. Though they rectified the situation, there is doubt as to whether the initial removal was an error or targeted action against an ideological foe.
By a substantial margin, those who reside in Silicon Valley actively reject conservatism. Since the dawn of the social media age, leftists have been in control. This is unlikely to change any time in the foreseeable future. We can neither expect to see increased tolerance toward those who lean Right, nor expect to see new tech companies, founded and run by conservatives, advance in a crowded market. Despite these realities, we should never encourage content-focused government intervention of private business.
That’s where President Trump comes in. Trump sounded off about censorship on Twitter over the weekend. But instead of advancing one clear message, his words were confusing and damaging to the discussion at hand. The beginning of the president’s mini-tirade was advocating for big government more than anything else:
Social Media is totally discriminating against Republican/Conservative voices. Speaking loudly and clearly for the Trump Administration, we won’t let that happen. They are closing down the opinions of many people on the RIGHT, while at the same time doing nothing to others…….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2018
It’s absolutely fair to say that social media companies have a soft spot for progressives. But no presidential administration should announce “we won’t let that happen” in regards to the regulation of speech on these platforms. How would a crackdown be carried out? Is the current administration going to force social media giants to follow a government-approved set of guidelines for their online communities? Such interference is not conservatism.
The president then admitted the difficulties in policing censorship in general before listing the “fake news” outlets he loves to deride:
…..Censorship is a very dangerous thing & absolutely impossible to police. If you are weeding out Fake News, there is nothing so Fake as CNN & MSNBC, & yet I do not ask that their sick behavior be removed. I get used to it and watch with a grain of salt, or don’t watch at all..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2018
Finally, he closed with a much more conservative plea:
….Too many voices are being destroyed, some good & some bad, and that cannot be allowed to happen. Who is making the choices, because I can already tell you that too many mistakes are being made. Let everybody participate, good & bad, and we will all just have to figure it out!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2018
Though devoid of specifics, Trump’s last sentence sounds like a free-market approach to the digital age.
When users create accounts on Twitter, Facebook, or similar platforms, they agree to that company’s terms of service. There are many instances when the rules of regular decorum are broken and users are either temporarily or permanently suspended. There is, however, quite a bit of discrimination that remains one-sided. As irritating as it has become, social media companies are allowed to “refuse service” as they see fit. Furthermore, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media destinations are absolutely free to use. You’re not at all required to sign up for an account. It’s not much different than when a business owner, like a baker or photographer, refuses their services based on some deeply-held religious belief. While I doubt any sort of context of faith ever plays into content decisions on Facebook and Twitter, the principle remains. Businesses make their own guidelines.
If customers prefer other options, they are free to shop elsewhere or, in the case of social media companies, create a better, more inclusive platform. In fact, one of the newer community destinations to emerge on the scene is called Minds. This site is dedicated to being a free and open space where censorship is not an issue. That kind of social media isn’t for everyone, but, like it or not, the free market wins again.
The social media ecosystem is a vast and complex place. Users and companies alike are still learning to navigate it as the discussion on free speech continues and technology advances. Though it may feel like the correct response in vexing times, conservatives (and a Republican president) should never encourage the big hand of government to reach into the private business sphere and start calling the content shots.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a senior contributor at RedState.com.
