Banning fringe voices from social media only makes them more dangerous

On May 2, Facebook and Instagram banned several controversial figures from their platforms, ranging from Nation of Islam leader and known anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan to famed conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. In a statement, Facebook branded the figures “dangerous.” While they certainly all peddle reprehensible ideas, the only thing that’s truly dangerous is Facebook’s decision to censor ideas rather than engage with them through dialogue.
Bad ideas are legitimized when they’re suppressed. To defeat bad ideas, we must actually engage our ideological opponents.
One of the ban’s targets, internet provocateur and Infowars contributor Paul Joseph Watson, immediately retreated to Twitter to decry “censorship” and the “suppression of dissent.” Jones has called the event a “purge.” Farrakhan has yet to respond, but his reaction will likely be equally negative, given his extensive history of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.

Frankly, it is a purge: Facebook is not trifling with low-brow, inconsequential commentators, it’s attacking entire movements. Nearly 23% of Americans believe 9/11 was an inside job. Similarly, 21% buy into a “world government” conspiracy. Both of these far-fetched theories were made famous by Jones and his cohorts.
These people believe the government is attempting to deceive them. No matter how outlandish that may be, Facebook only feeds such paranoia by attempting to squash it. After all, silencing people who already think they’re oppressed, as most fringe voices do, only further entrenches their beliefs.
The result? Inflamed conspiracies, galvanized crackpots, and more misinformation. In other words, the exact opposite of Facebook’s intent.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/red-alert-politics/banning-fringe-voices-from-social-media-only-makes-them-more-dangerous

Banning fringe voices from social media only makes them more dangerous

Banning fringe voices from social media only makes them more dangerous

Anarcho-Capitalist Categorical Imperatives

More Via AnCaps: Culture, Art & Media