{"id":4709,"date":"2021-01-22T07:38:04","date_gmt":"2021-01-22T07:38:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.surveycrest.com\/blog\/?p=4709"},"modified":"2021-01-22T07:38:07","modified_gmt":"2021-01-22T07:38:07","slug":"twitter-ban-free-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.surveycrest.com\/blog\/twitter-ban-free-speech\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump\u2019s Twitter Ban & Free Speech: What Does The Future Hold?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ask any philosopher of Ethics, the right thing or the correct thing to do<\/a> is never the most obvious or easiest choice. We all go through a list of possible pros and cons when deciding on which path to take. It\u2019s always a grey area where the certainty lies in hindsight.<\/p>\n

When Twitter permanently banned Donald Trump<\/a> earlier this month, it sparked all kinds of reactions about free speech and censorship<\/a>. What is free speech, how free <\/em>should it be, and what does the future has in store for it, all came under scrutiny.<\/p>\n

Twitter chief, Jack Dorsey considered the ban necessary but potentially destructive.<\/p>\n

In a string of tweets posted last week<\/a>, he admitted that it was the right decision to take but confessed that it can set a dangerous precedent. It can give corporations way too much power to steer or influence the global public conversation. And that\u2019s your grey area right there.<\/p>\n

While free speech is a fundamental human right, where are its borders, and should it have any? Being able to express your opinions that many may find offensive or even dangerous has been protected by the First Amendment and even United Nations charter. And sometimes, expressing your unpopular opinion is necessary to bring change. Think for a moment: if MLK Jr. had not decided to be disruptive or present his \u2018unpopular\u2019 opinion of equality, the civil rights movements would not have had seen the light of day.<\/p>\n

Related: A Timeline Memorializing Barack Obama\u2019s Tenure Before He Is Trumped<\/a><\/h3>\n

But it is also a fact that for the longest of time in recent years, free speech on the internet has caused real-world harm<\/a>. From global politicians to small-town individuals, those who wanted to incite violence have used the internet as their megaphone. And the message of hate and tolerance has been heard by all and sundry. The riot at the US Capitol is saddening and shameful proof. It\u2019s also what led to Trump\u2019s eventual ban by Twitter.<\/p>\n

So, was it the right move? No one can say for certain. Those who support free speech called the ban dangerous and those who think it should come with a code of check-and-balance have celebrated the ban. And this disparity is reflective of a generational shift in mindset: an increasing number of people want free speech, but not at the cost of inclusivity or mental health.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s see what the numbers say. According to a 2019 report by the Knight Foundation<\/a>,<\/p>\n