I'm concerned that many don't understand free speech in the context of algorithms

IMO, speech in the digital west is more threatened by filter bubbles than by traditional methods

It's not about what you can't say - it's about what an algorithm will allow someone else to read

There also seems to be a naivete that telling digital platforms to be "hands off" somehow protects free speech

My only guess is that this is based on the assumption that your newsfeed includes every post from every person you follow.

I assure you it doesn't. Algorithms decide

If I post a tweet with no content - maybe 5,000 people will read it.

Why?

Because an algorithm decided that it wasn't worth people reading.

And in this case, it's right. It's a tweet with no content.

But we as a society need to have an honest, informed conversation about how we want information to move in society.

Right now it moves based on "what is most engaging?"

Also you can pay $ to have your information heard more.

These should all be considered.

TLDR: free speech in the digital west isn't about what you get to say, it's about what you can force people who disagree with you to hear.

This ability used to be ~equally distributed (yelling in the street)

But now some yell with the strength of millions and others not at all