Read on Twitter
When I was a lad tip-toeing onto Usenet in 1992, we all thought the Internet was going to empower unfettered free speech, without the "gatekeepers" of traditional corporate media.
All we did was change gatekeepers. We went from CBS, AP, UPI, The Washington Post ... 1/
All we did was change gatekeepers. We went from CBS, AP, UPI, The Washington Post ... 1/
... to a bunch of big, amoral Internet companies that want to portray themselves as simply neutral services ... common carriers, like the postal service.
Except they're not neutral. Try posting someone else's copyrighted content and see how fast they shut you down. 2/
Except they're not neutral. Try posting someone else's copyrighted content and see how fast they shut you down. 2/
So they do make a choice to respect capitalism and profit ... which means they're not neutral, common carriers.
By not shutting down propaganda and liars, they're also making a choice to side with enemies of freedom and democracy. 3/
By not shutting down propaganda and liars, they're also making a choice to side with enemies of freedom and democracy. 3/
Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have given a voice to the voiceless, but they've also given much louder megaphones to crackpots, cranks and charlatans. 4/
To extend my media gatekeeper metaphor:
Imagine if in 1968, CBS followed Walter Cronkite every night with a half-hour on Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard, followed by a half-hour of Lyndon LaRouche, leading into "Green Acres" at 8:30.
5/
Imagine if in 1968, CBS followed Walter Cronkite every night with a half-hour on Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard, followed by a half-hour of Lyndon LaRouche, leading into "Green Acres" at 8:30.
5/
No one in 1968 would have said, "Well, CBS is just enabling freedom of speech. Why are you trying to censor the free exchange of ideas?"
They would have said, "what kind of morons run this network?" 6/
They would have said, "what kind of morons run this network?" 6/
But that's more or less what YouTube serves up.
You go to look up a funny animal video. First YouTube shows you one of those creepy Epoch Times ads. Halfway through, the video stops and someone tries to sell you some diet supplement.
7/
You go to look up a funny animal video. First YouTube shows you one of those creepy Epoch Times ads. Halfway through, the video stops and someone tries to sell you some diet supplement.
7/
Afterward, YouTube "suggests" you watch a video from OANN or Newsmax. A couple of more clicks and you're seeing videos about the lizard people controlling the weather.
As many people have said, by all means, let's have open minds, but not so open our brains fall out. 8/
As many people have said, by all means, let's have open minds, but not so open our brains fall out. 8/
... and of course, the first question is, "Well, who decides what to censor? What if they censor your opinions?"
Well, I've already been suspended by Twitter once. And I've gotten copyright strikes on Facebook for trying to stream my show. So they're already doing it.
9/
Well, I've already been suspended by Twitter once. And I've gotten copyright strikes on Facebook for trying to stream my show. So they're already doing it.
9/
If they can do it to protect Sony Music from losing 0.000002 cents of revenue because I streamed 15 seconds of a Chuck Berry song, they can surely do it when someone is lying about an election, or trying to organize a coup.
... they don't want to.
10/
... they don't want to.
10/
Well, gosh, golly, when you look at it that way, it's almost as if unregulated capitalism as practiced by big, monopolistic, multinational corporations isn't compatible with representative democracy of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Huh. Whodathunkit?
11/
Huh. Whodathunkit?
11/
One small step toward shifting power toward the people, and away from big amoral corporations, would be busting up some of these Internet monopolies.
Mister (and miss and mx), we could use a man like Teddy Roosevelt again.
12/
Mister (and miss and mx), we could use a man like Teddy Roosevelt again.
12/
