This Post Was Removed: Why Online Censorship Is Counterproductive
Welcome to the Internet… Could I interest you in everything - all of the time?
...the entirety of human knowledge just a click away. With such an abundance of choice and possibility available at our fingertips, why then are we becoming more isolated?
Much of the issue rests with us I'm afraid. People naturally like to create environments that align with their own beliefs and interests and this trait is reflected in how we interact with the Internet.
We curate our own online experience more than ever. Social media allows us unprecedented power to control not only which elements of the Internet we interact with but also how we interact with them. Like that video? Subscribe for more. Don’t like that comment? Remove it.
Once algorithms are added to this potent mixture, the problem starts to spiral out of control. Remember that video you just liked? Here’s one hundred more just like it. Before we know it, we have surrounded ourselves in viewpoints just like our own. We demand the right to censor and social media obliges.
This is especially prevalent when connected to moral issues and … you guessed it, politics. In fact, the closer the issue is to our own identity, the more likely we are to censor opposing responses to our posts. Simply put: the more we care about something, the less willing we are to listen to opposing views.
Short-term individual comfort might however be causing long-term damage.
Societies, especially in the Western world, have become increasingly polarised – meaning that society is being divided into two contrasting groups of opinions on issues - and social media is frequently listed as a contributing factor.
A polarised political system can produce democratic benefits. It allows for the mobilisation of voters around clearly identifiable choices. The active participation of citizens is essential to a functioning democracy and is a topic that we have addressed previously.
Wait. There’s a catch though, isn’t there? There is and it’s potentially devastating. Democracies are especially vulnerable to the effects of political polarisation becoming self-perpetuating - communication is limited or cut completely with those that disagree with our point-of-view, which reinforces further polarisation. Once set in motion, it can be incredibly difficult to contain.
An unwillingness to compromise. Connected to increasingly radicalised views. Political polarisation and censorship typically does not end well...
In a world of abundant information, the ability to censor our environment is obviously enticing. It can make the complex seem simple. Our continued progress however depends on our ability to openly share and discuss ideas. Even if we disagree, we might just learn something new... and that benefits us all in the end.
Next: Why cyberwarfare is changing the way we see conflict.
