2021 has started out with many different instances of censoring points of view.
I am going to give 3 examples I have seen recently and I am positive that there are many more examples of suppressing an alternative opinion.
I understand that the pandemic has created a new way we live now, bound to our homes and probably constantly scouring the Internet to get some sort of contact and context to what we are experiencing.
It is hard to cope and with every lockdown, it seems the exhaustion many have to discuss the narrative, it is fuelled by fear or anger with a hint of sarcasm.
The alternative perspectives online were alot more prevelant online in march 2020. Since then, labels have been attached to these viewpoints such as Covidiots, Conspiracy Theorists, clowns to name a few.
This is not a discussion. The people who do the labelling and do not like the alternative term these peoples views as dangerous and from what I have read, do not begin to think as to how they could form an opinion
First, I shall start across the pond with Donald Trump being banned from Facebook and Twitter. The platforms that have removed the president on the basis of inciting the supporters at the rally on Jan 6th when 5 Americans lost their lives.
I did watch the speech and the president did not incite an attack. The people will not get to hear why each individual did what they did.
'I’m facing a prison sentence': US Capitol rioters plead with Trump for pardons
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/16/us-capitol-rioters-donald-trump-pardons
Secondly, A UK radio channel Talk Radio was removed from YouTube as they broke their community guidelines as the anchor Julia Hartley-Brewer argued an alternative with a teacher regarding the UK response to lockdown and schools approach. This was then reinstated the following day after culture Secretary Oliver Dowden intervention.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jan/05/youtube-bans-talkradio-for-allegedly-breaching-content-policy
Thirdly, A rising star online Alex Belfield The Voice of reason has been talking about how this week has been the toughest week of his life. He gets aa million views a day, more than major broadcasting companies and went missing in action from Wednesday until Saturday. His 1st video back he described the scenario as dark forces at play trying to get him and his channel down. Alex states this will not deter him and he has a legal battle against the sabotage. He is bound by his lawyers and QC Barrister not to mention anything, so it is hard to establish the full story as of yet.
https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/where-alex-belfield-has-conservative-presenter-been-taken-youtube-and-latest-his-shows-return-3102138
https://twitter.com/celebrityradio/status/1350495123801595906?s=19
It seems influencers with an alternative are being attacked and the war of perception is a very realistic term in 2021.
Freedom to speak, to have dialogue between us and to come to our conclusions is what makes us different than any other animal on the earth.
To control a narrative and suppress because the publisher, broadcaster believes it to be dangerous to them and others is not right and thus fuels a wider division with an empty centre ground.
Comments
Post a Comment