Donald Trump Jr. the son of President Trump, recently wrote an op ed in real clear politics, where he laid claim that Instagram censored him over a comment he made regarding Jussie Smollett. Smollett, the actor who orchestrated a hate crime hoax according to the Chicago police department. Trump Jr. pointed out how unbelievable Smollett's accusation was in the first place.
Trump Jr. Stated, "As Jussie Smollett’s preposterous story about being beaten in a racist, homophobic attack was falling apart, I posted about it on Facebook-owned Instagram, pointing out how unbelievable his allegation was in the first place."
"After I let my followers know my thoughts on the Smollett hoax, I received a notification that Instagram deleted my post."
Instagram apologized for removing his post, however it begs the question. Has big tech gone too far?
Many conservative sites have been de-monetized by YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. And several have had their platforms removed.
According to Western Journal, Facebook eliminated "over 559 political pages and 251 accounts in a clamp down on what the social media company calls “inauthentic behavior” in the lead-up to the midterm elections." Groups such as Right Wing News, Molon Labe Industries, and Overpasses For America have been completely eliminated from the Face Book platform.
Prager U which has been censored by YouTube, made the statement. "Conservative ideas are under attack. YouTube does not want young people to hear conservative ideas as they currently list over 80 PragerU videos-- over 10 percent of our entire library--under "restricted mode" making it difficult for many young people to access our videos."
Activist Mommy, had her Twitter account suspended after she criticized a Teen Vogue editor who approved of publishing an article that encouraged youth to have anal sex. Grace Johnson had her twitter account suspended under Twitter terms and conditions of harassment, for criticizing the editor of Teen Vogue for promoting Anal sex for teens.
Marsha Blackburn, Republican Congresswoman of Tennessee had a Twitter Ad censored because of her Pro-Life stance. Talking about de-funding Planned Parenthood.
Google, Internet behemoth has even taken part in the algorithm as they have been adjusting their searches based on progressive ideals. Making finding conservative outlets more difficult to retrieve on their search engine.
There are approximately 325.7 million Americans and with 2/3 using social media to search for news and information, it is important that they be exposed to an alternate opinion than what the social media giants have imposed. The type of censorship they have been imposing on Americans is similar to the type of censorship of communist countries.
Congress has been ineffective in stopping the censorship of these social media giants.
Is it time that social media be governed under the principles of the second Amendment, or maybe an alternative media be introduced to compete with that of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram? Despite the growth and success of Gab.AI, they were temporarily suspended due to outrage over their inability to effectively censor someone who later went on a shooting rampage killing several people worshiping at a synagogue.
Is it safe to say, that the United States is being held hostage to the social media giants who are censoring conservative articles and opinion? Also, what are the effective alternatives to such said censorship? Without proper information how can anyone make an informed decision regarding their future?