Social Media Platforms Pursue Hatred While Claiming to Promote Free Speech
Technology Brief #128 | Naja Barnes | April 20, 2025
Amid the current political unrest, citizens have voiced their concerns through social media. Voicing one’s differences of opinions without government interference is an American right, but that right has since been under attack.
Social media is a tool used to connect and inform people across the world, but it also is being weaponized to censor free speech, a basic right under the Constitution’s First Amendment. However social media platforms are not government entities, and therefore are not bound by the First Amendment.
Consequently the lines of what is considered an infringement of free speech are being blurred.
Analysis
Censorship of speech through the use of algorithms and moderation practices of social media has happened before, during political movements. In 2020, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and the cases of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd brought on a political movement and nationwide protests in support. This was made possible due to the use of social media and its ability to reach a widespread audience. However, during the BLM movement, users of Instagram noticed that their algorithm alsowere suppressing stories and posts surrounding the movement. This type of censoring through the use of algorithms and moderation is not an infringement on free speech because social media platforms are private entities; meaning that they can censor any information they deem inappropriate for their platform.
Leaders of social media platforms mistakenly argue that their platforms support free speech. For example Elon Musk’s claims that his platform X encourages all forms of speech, including hate speech. However X routinely censors posts that critique Musk, have left-leaning views, and discuss LGBTQ+ issues.
In conclusion, free speech is being mistakenly promoted as a feature of social media platforms, like X. The real reason for free speech is to allow citizens to lawfully express their opinions, critique their government, and promote safe discourse. So far, there has been little room to do so under major social media platforms, and the future of free speech remains uncertain.
Engagement Resources
- ‘Rules aren’t clear anymore’: Trump crackdown on student protesters sends shock waves across US universities
https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/16/us/mahmoud-khalil-columbia-protests-free-speech/index.html - Freedom of speech is shifting under the Trump administration. We’re exploring how
https://www.npr.org/2025/04/07/nx-s1-5327154/free-speech-trump-first-amendment