Does social media pose a threat to free speech and democracy?

A question I have been asking myself recently is if social media is a threat to free speech and democracy. This came up in a discussion in one of my classes. 

We asked ourselves if everyone having acess to social media and the ability to post at any moment actually helped our democracy. There were mixed reviews, which is normal because there is no right or wrong way to answer it. 

If we are realistically looking at it, if we come to the conclusion that social media hinders free speech and democracy, there would be riots when we would try to restrict social media. That is normally how the American people act, some examples are alcohol, seatbelts and guns. 

So I would like to take the approach of how we can better social media as it is right now. 

To me, I think social media is a tool for free speech as well as keeping democracy alive but it has many faults. 

On apps like X, Instagram and arguably Facebook it is very easy to say what you want. There are almost little to no restrictions. There are certain graphic images and words that are taken down but those are extreme cases.

X especially is very open with their rules and regulations on what can and can’t be posted. In my opinion, this is horrible. I cannot tell you how many graphic images, videos or statements I have seen on X. 

But in a way, that is what the internet is for. No matter how deplorable or disgusting the comments or tweets are, they show what the person behind that account truly feels. 

Although I absolutely don’t condone half of what X users say or do, it does show how people really think when they aren’t “afraid” of their posts being deleted or banned for violating community guidelines. This is also mainly because X has little to no serious community guidelines. 

Throughout the 21st century, social media has grown along with political literacy, even despite what popular opinion may think. Politics used to be a thing that only adults worried about. 

There were young people involved in politics before the 21st century, but it has exponentially grown with the rise of social media. And that is simply due to the fact that young people are able to instantly get information about politics. 

Knowledge is power, and having that knowledge a few clicks away is powerful and scary. Scary to those who do not want young people to be aware of politics. Politics used to be, arguably still is, run by an older generation governing the younger generations. 

But with social media, there have been many younger and more inclusive people in places of power. Different sexualities, gender identities, disabilities and many more inclusivity markers have been made less taboo. 

I like to think that was social media’s doing, people took to social media to proudly declare that they are queer, disabled, etc. and that should not be seen as being less of a person. 

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the January 6 riot and the attacks on Palestine have been pivotal moments in history as well as social media history. Millions of people across the Earth can see historical events play out minute by minute all from social media platforms. 

Due to loose community guidelines on some of these apps, people are able to see how gruesome pandemics, riots and war actually are. I know I have seen tragic videos from the pandemic where hospitals could not handle the influx of patients, both alive and dead. 

I think this is where the fear of social media disrupting free speech and democracy comes from. The American people can see for themselves what their tax dollars go to. As well as the actions of the officials and leaders that they vote in. 

Not that they couldn’t see it before the rise of social media, but now it is almost instant. There is no buffer between information and the American people anymore. Social media has bridged language and geopolitical gaps for people all across the Earth. 

Americans will always want their right to freedom of speech. Trying to restrict free speech on social media platforms is crazy to me. Because people will find a way to say what they want to say. No matter what side you are on in an argument the “other side” always seems to have backward morals and outlandish ideas. 

Social media is a dangerous tool if you want to silence people. As much misinformation and outright morally wrong opinions people on social media platforms may have, there is just as much informational and ground-breaking knowledge. 

Free speech on social media seems like an untamed monster but this is where ideas and changes are born.