Got into a debate on Twitter about the term 'cancel culture' and what actually qualifies as censorship

So I was scrolling through a thread where someone argued that getting ratio'd or losing followers isn't censorship, it's just consequences. But then I saw a stat from a 2023 Pew Research study that said 38% of Americans have self-censored online because they feared backlash. That number blew my mind. Where do we draw the line between community moderation and actual suppression of ideas? On one hand, platforms have rules. On the other hand, if people are scared to speak up, isn't that a kind of soft censorship? Curious what this group thinks - does social pressure count as a free speech violation or is that just part of living in a society?

2 comments

2 Comments

miam118d ago

idk, for me the whole self-censorship thing is more about picking your battles. I've skipped posting stuff before just cause I knew the replies would be annoying and I didn't have the energy for it, not cause I was scared for my job or anything. Like sometimes it's just easier to keep scrolling and save the opinion for a group chat or whatever.

the_mary8d ago

lol "self-censored online because they feared backlash" - i feel like that stat is wild until you realize half of it is just people not wanting to deal with getting ratio'd by randos. do yall think there's a difference between skipping a post because you're tired of drama vs actually being scared for your job or safety?