Deplatforming is starting to rise up as a means of dealing with the bad effects of social media. For instance:
- Deplatforming topics: This was done at Reddit where topics were banned Study finds Reddit’s controversial ban of its most toxic subreddits actually worked
- Deplatforming people: described in this piece, Social Media Bans Actually Work.
- Deplotforming whole subject matter: Pinterest has banned vaccine talking all together: Pinterest is blocking all searches on vaccinations to stop spread of misinformation
Are there downsides to this? For governments and societies, yes. China also deplatforms people and topics that the government deems undesirable. Deplatforming, like excommunications and exile and shunning are all blunt instruments that need to be I think this is vigorously examined not only from the point of view of free speech, but also the result of such speech.
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