Read on Twitter
1/ A thread to talk about publishers and how it all ties in to the recent debate on Twitter about free speech. There are a billion threads on the speech aspect but I want to point out the aspects of publishing and how it ties in to the argument of treating outlets like publishers
2/ Some believe that a lot of problems can be solved by forcing social media platforms to act like publishers. They feel it’s more beneficial to free speech to treat them as such and then they can be held accountable for what is said or not said. However, it’s not what it seems.
3/ A publisher can choose what to put out there. Obviously we think about newspapers and magazines but then there are publishers of books. Next time you pass by or are in a book store, look at your selection on the shelves and realize this is a small portion of what is out there
4/ For each book you see, there are probably 50 other manuscripts and ideas the publisher rejected. They chose to print the ones that make them money. That’s why they printed and are selling the latest James Patterson novel, Pioneer Woman cookbook, and Totally Gross Jokes 69.
5/ Apple and Google work the same way. They have the apps most likely to make them a buck. For every app like Twitter or Word Cookies, there are many who didn’t make the cut. It’s the way it works out. They are private businesses putting out technology that we buy.
6/ If you turn social media platforms into publishers, you will see less free speech and more censorship. If being held liable for what is on their pages they will be more fussy in what is said. We will see more unpopular speech edited out for fear of being pounced on for it.
7/ It’s very simple, really. Internet might be an essential utility but that’s a separate issue. We pick and choose the apps we want. I choose apps like Twitter, TuneIn, and Bejeweled. I don’t have to have them but want to. At the same time I have learned to follow the rules.
8/ Don’t be a douche on social media and you are golden. Trolls here and griefers at games like World of Warcraft will be dealt with. We do need more consistency in how these violations are addressed but otherwise don’t be a jerk. 
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