InfoSearched
Published -
- July 1, 2020
- 3:00 pm
In last week’s fired-up conversation, Tim got a good rant in, but Adam did, too, and Adam’s monologue went viral on Facebook, where the video eventually became unavailable.
Adam goes into more detail about his journey from passive, disengaged default liberal to alert, optimistic Trump voter.
How do social media platforms like Facebook engage in selective content moderation?
In a bizarre turn of events that has left many scratching their heads, Facebook recently deleted a video in which a self-described liberal announced that she is voting for President Donald Trump in the upcoming November election. The video, which was posted by a user with the handle “The Deplorable Choir,” featured a woman known only as “Mindy” speaking out about her decision to support Trump despite her traditionally left-leaning political beliefs. The video went viral and was shared thousands of times before it was removed by Facebook for reportedly violating its terms of service.
The incident has raised questions about the role that social media platforms like Facebook play in influencing public discourse and manipulating information to suit their own ideological biases. Some have criticized the company for censoring conservative voices, while others have accused it of engaging in selective content moderation designed to promote a particular agenda.
Regardless of where one stands on the political spectrum, it is undeniable that the ability to express divergent opinions is a cornerstone of democratic societies. Free speech is a fundamental human right, and any attempt to suppress it should be met with skepticism and scrutiny.
In the case of Mindy’s video, Facebook has not provided any clear justification for why it was removed. Some have speculated that the platform may have deemed the video to be “fake news,” while others have suggested that it may have violated the company’s policy against “hate speech.”
Whatever the reason for its removal, the incident highlights the growing concern among many that social media platforms are becoming increasingly politicized and are no longer serving as neutral arbitrators of public discourse. It also underscores the urgent need for greater transparency and accountability with regard to the ways that these platforms operate and moderate content.
In conclusion, the deletion of Mindy’s video is a concerning development that should be viewed as a warning signal about the state of free speech in the digital age. As we move closer to the 2020 election, it is imperative that social media companies like Facebook take a more even-handed approach to content moderation and allow for a diversity of opinions to be expressed openly and without fear of censorship or reprisal. Anything less would represent a significant threat to the well-being of our democracy and our collective ability to engage in constructive and meaningful dialogue.
