2020s increase in censorship on social media- why?

[Proud90sKid]

There has been a tremendous change in social media moderation in the 2020s. Fortunately, it seems to be dying off a bit. But for several years, there was concern over what was called “dangerous beliefs and speech”. Im not talking about outright threats, but instead a massive increase in censorship over what certain people find disagreeable. I consider myself to be very socially liberal (i support gay marriage, free speech, the right to use marijuana, etc) while also supporting some economic restriction and socialized healthcare. This should make me a liberal right? But, it doesn’t. There was a surge of censorship that came from the left-particularly before 2025. There was a time that if you posted on reddit in any of the “lockdown skeptic” subs during COVID that ou would be automatically banned by many major subreddits. At around the same time, subreddits to ask questions about dating became seriously over-moderated for no reason other than to prevent specifically men from expressing any frustration about the dynamics of modern dating(somehow, there was this weird belief that such would increase mass shootings- apparantly men being allowed to express frustration with dating apps wasnt the cause of mass shootings as they still happen despite all the white knighting). You could be openly misandrist as a woman and that was ok…you could make a post about how all men are awful- but heaven forbid a guy say that dating apps have made dating harder for men and maybe easier for women. No, that was seen as dangerous speech for a time. I think it is finally swinging back to normalcy, but I also think it has been disproportionate. Facebook seems to lean conservative, though there are some groups that still practice excessive censoring/cancel culture(which is very toxic and possibly a big or even sole reason for the political polarization that has also increased). Reddit still seems to lean left, but the cancelling seems to be dying down. Cancel culture failed and we just got political disagreement over everything instead. Nobody could have civil dialogue and that just wasnt compatible with a democratic society. Im not disagreeing with the left on everything, but opposing free speech did damage to them being the party of social freedom (which includes free speech).

Remember when you could discuss pretty much anything on facebook, reddit, etc? Yeah, what happened to those good days?

[¯|_(ツ)_|¯]

I've seen people on comment threads say they've gotten warned or suspended for using phrases such as "silly goose" before, so there's definitely a problem with censorship on social media. I say there should be free speech on social media within reason (if someone is threatening to harm others, for example, that's an issue). With it though, people should be free to call out issues such as someone being racist, homophobic, ableist, etc.

[Arabesque- golfing girl.]

I agree with what you are saying. When someone is being rude, hurtful, ect to others it needs to be stopped and called out right away. When we are upset about something, we can say that, but never hurting anyone else.

[theantihero]

I was watching a Frontline documentary on Facebook last week. Moderation is non-existent on that platform, as with Instagram.


When there is moderation being done (usually by automation) then the wrong material gets deleted and the wrong accounts banned.

[Proud90sKid]

Originally Posted by ¯|_(ツ)_|¯

I've seen people on comment threads say they've gotten warned or suspended for using phrases such as "silly goose" before, so there's definitely a problem with censorship on social media. I say there should be free speech on social media within reason (if someone is threatening to harm others, for example, that's an issue). With it though, people should be free to call out issues such as someone being racist, homophobic, ableist, etc.

I agree. But this is how it was pre-2020. For at least a few years during the early 2020s, things changed. I feel like it was a factor in the election and super high political polarity that exists at present tbh as so many people were annoyed by it. I remember when yahoo removed their comments section in 2020 because nearly every comment was about how fauci mishandled the pandemic by not adequetly considering non-public-health consequences to lockdowns. I remember youtube got rid of dislikes when the fauci doc got downvoted so hard. Seemed to be the straw that broke that camel’s back.