From Cancel Culture to Content Removal: Exploring the Complexities of Social Media Censorship

Funso Richard
4 min readMar 11, 2024

Balancing free speech and regulating harmful content on social media platforms is a delicate but crucial endeavor that requires nuanced policies to uphold democratic values while mitigating the spread of misinformation, hate speech, and other potentially dangerous content.

The digital age has ushered in a paradoxical landscape where vast amounts of information coexist with widespread misinformation, weaving a complex tapestry that intertwines knowledge with deception. This phenomenon, compounded by the insidious rise of cancel culture, cyberbullying, and the suppression of dissenting viewpoints, has fueled mounting criticism regarding the role of social media companies in moderating content and ensuring a safe online environment.

Social media platforms have evolved into contemporary public forums where ideas are exchanged, and diverse perspectives collide. However, the rise of these platforms has also unveiled intricate challenges surrounding content moderation and censorship. As we navigate the complex terrain of free speech, misinformation, and the accountability of social media companies, it becomes imperative to grasp the current landscape of social media censorship and its far-reaching ramifications.

--

--

Funso Richard

AI Pragmatist Ethicist & GRC Thought Leader. I write about governance, risk, cybersecurity and strategy to help organizations minimize business risks.