In the past few years, we have learned that most s
ocial media providers are not about their users or about promoting
free speech as was designated as their original purpose for existing. No, they are a business with customers who are not necessarily the same as their users. Most social media outlets are about profit through
advertising dollars and promoting the
beliefs/values of the outlet's owners. Social media platforms keep changing who they allow to voice opinions on their networks and what they will allow the remaining network audience to see. A few of these actions may be directed at preventing "
misinformation" or encouraging "
disinformation" to appease the government or other powers, but more are about controlling what facts social media users see. Whether hiding select information is done at the direction of owners, advertisers, or
politicians is not shared with their users.
Well-known social media platforms continue hiding information from users by constantly changing how the information is displayed. When hiding started in 2020, Facebook users were encouraged to either view a "fact check" or "alternative view" article first before clicking through to what they wanted to view. Twitter did something similar with a friendly warning pop-up when users wanted to share "questionable" items and forcing user to choose to continue by clicking option in pop-up or outside of it to cancel communication. Now, the user sometimes also may click an additional option on the post to see one-time view of the article image link or video link. To prevent the complaints, users are allowed to go to a "security" option to turn-off the platform's latest change.
Example of Twitter Popup when Retweeting Website/Articles
Example of Twitter Text on select Website/Video as of 3-4-2022
Example of Twitter to Change View Settings (from above) to Prevent Blocking
Are these new changes letting users control more of what they see or is it still about the social media outlet keeping control? Will users take the 2nd or 3rd click/step required to see the hidden information from selected sites? Will other platforms choose to change "sensitive" view options that make it sound like users will see pornogrghy instead of platform-deemed "questionable" information. Are social media owners hoping users will not exercise their personal choice by making the extra effort to click again? Is the reason platforms are requiring the extra clicks so they can track user choices better or find out what is most popular topics? Will any of it make a difference to owner's profits, advertiser's bottom-line, or to the user's free speech? Do social media users still have the option to gather their own facts and form their own opinions?
Articles and videos continue to get blocked, not because they have been individually "fact checked," but due to the main URL of the .com/.net/.org being targeted for reasons known only to the social media provider. Or in the case of a video, it might it be a particular Youtube, TV, or cable channel suppression. So where do users go to find truth/facts or lies/fiction now?
The user should have the opportunity to decide, not the social network outlet. Yes - that's a lot of embedded questions above that are definitely NOT hidden from view! Why? Because questions make you think. If you think, then you can form your own opinions. Sharing opinions in an acceptable and respectful way is allowed freedom of speech.