The Challenge of Online Free Speech and Some Existing Solutions

After a brief hiatus due to my busy schedule in grad school, I'm excited to return to writing today to discuss some pressing issues.

The Changing Landscape

It’s September 30, 2023, it's evident that significant changes are sweeping across the #online landscape. However, it's not the flood of information we've been expecting; it's more akin to a wildfire, threatening to consume everything in its path.

We find ourselves in a #spiritual battle where one side seeks to erase the other from history. If you've been scrolling through Twitter or TikTok lately, you may have noticed a narrative blaming the one side or the other. What's often overlooked is that both sides are influenced by ideological narratives, effectively trapped within their own echo chambers.

The Influence of Gatekeepers

These ideological barriers can be equated to metaphorical bars, often referred to as "#censors," "Thought Police," or, more aptly, "Gatekeepers." Recent months have seen a dramatic escalation in their influence.

I remember the days when the internet was free from constant a#dvertisements, a time before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Google permeated every corner of the web.

Online Censorship and Ownership

Let's address a stark #reality: platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have fallen short as champions of free speech online. Censors #control the algorithms that shape our feeds and even dictate who can send direct messages, marked by the elusive "Blue Check-mark."

It's crucial to understand that private corporations are not bound by #legal restrictions when it comes to censoring speech. The U.S. Constitution constrains only the federal #government, leaving corporations free to shape their platforms as they see fit.

The Influence of Corporations

Consider the vast extent of land and property owned by private corporations in the U.S., both in #commercial and residential real estate. Wall Street's #influence has reached every industry, fostering consolidation and limiting #competition.

While Big Oil and other industries face criticism, entities like BlackRock and Vanguard often escape #scrutiny. These two giants collectively control over $15 trillion in Assets under Management, exerting immense power over presidential elections, cabinet appointments, and regulatory #policies.

The Need for a Digital Bill of Rights

In light of these developments, it becomes apparent that we need a #Digital Bill of Rights, enshrined in law. This bill should ensure that no company, utilizing publicly-built internet infrastructure, can censor speech on behalf of the government or otherwise.

Furthermore, it's our responsibility, as individuals and as a society, to foster alternatives. Several promising #solutions exist within the Hive Blockchain:

For micro-blogging, consider platforms like D.Buzz.

Share photos on Liketu.

Explore blogging options on Ecency and PeakD.

For video content and live-streaming, Cast.Garden (powered by Hive-Tube) offers a viable alternative. Hive-Tube, is a free & open-source (FOSS) plugin that monetizes ALL your video, podcast and streaming content, and syndicates it across more than 40 other content-hosting websites and thousands of RSS aggregators!

If you seek an alternative to Discord, WhatsApp, Messenger or Telegram, Sting.Chat is worth considering.

For financial transactions, explore HiveLightning and HivePay.

If you're someone who enjoys handling your website independently, then I've got an exciting solution to share with you. Allow me to introduce HiveLive, a suite of tools crafted by the talented Bambukah! What makes it even more enticing is that the SuperHive application allows you to seamlessly integrate all your Hive blog posts into your own website, while HiveStream facilitates in-stream donations, all without the need for intermediaries!

These platforms, built on the Hive Blockchain, provide real solutions to the challenges we face regarding free speech. The primary hurdle is persuading people to embrace these alternatives, even when their social circles and favorite content creators remain on mainstream platforms.

Supporting Independent Creators

#Mainstream platforms often exploit content #creators. Many independent artists and creators earn paltry sums for their hard work. It's time to support them directly, bypassing intermediaries.

YouTube, in particular, has faced criticism for #censoring content and shadow-banning creators. These practices harm individuals who have dedicated time and effort to building an #audience.

A Call for Change

In the current digital landscape, parasites feed off their hosts. We must recognize the need for change and actively seek solutions.

The music industry often becomes a prime subject of criticism due to its less-than-stellar #management practices. If you're an independent musician aspiring to expand your audience, connect with new listeners, and collaborate with someone who truly cares about your #craft, I highly recommend checking out Greg Arcade and his independent record label, National Vinyl. Greg is a genuine individual with a strong moral compass, in stark contrast to faceless corporate-owned labels that often take a hefty 90% off the top, ensnaring artists in exchange for fame.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the solutions proposed here aim to address issues faced by those who have been censored, shadow-banned, or exploited by the status quo and corporate entities. If we truly wish to make a positive impact on the world, it's incumbent upon us to create solutions that benefit everyone.