Censorship on social media. Discussion. Research Paper

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Social Media Censorship
Censorship in the media is defined as a restriction of information and communication from being viewed or publicized because it is considered ‘sensitive, harmful, objectionable and inconvenient. Information, speech and communication is considered for suppression by the government as well as the terms and conditions held by different media personalities’ CITATION Wha181 \l 1033 (What is Censorship?).The greatest censorship is found in social media because such a platform has all types of people from age, religion, gender and political preferences. The freedom found in social media platforms allow users to post all manner of content. It is for this reason that censorship comes into play in different social media sites such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
The topic of censorship is one filled with a lot of controversies with two opposing sides on whether to censor content or not. The side opposing censorship argues that it is denying the freedom of expression and that ‘total censorship is not possible’ CITATION Wha18 \l 1033 (7 Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet Censorship) while those for censorship also have a strong argument that censorship prevents harmful and dangerous content from being viewed and publicized thus causing damageCITATION Soc12 \l 1033 (Social Media Censorship. Should or Should not?). Censorship on social media does not violate freedom of speech since some content posted fails as a form of communication CITATION All18 \l 1033 (Pratt), violates human rights, ‘is immoral’ CITATION Wha181 \l 1033 (What is Censorship?), promotes violence, is misinforming, and any information that fails in protecting the interest of a nation should be censoredCITATION Soc12 \l 1033 (Social Media Censorship. Should or Should not?).
Discussion
Social media just like the name suggest is for the purposes of socializing and communicating. With this is mind it is good for internet users to have the question in mind as to whether the content they post in their social media accounts is a form of communication. ‘Communication is a two way traffic, speaking and someone else responds even though not in agreement. Communication adheres to appropriateness, audience, kindness and the preferences and opinions of other people’ CITATION All18 \l 1033 (Pratt). Therefore when any information posted in social media that doesn’t qualify as communication and therefore violates the opinions and preferences of other people, is defamatory to certain people, promotes unkindness and is inappropriate should definitely be removed.
Other people argue that we should ‘speak our minds’ and therefore post whatever we wish but in doing so we will be behaving as savages who do not pay attention to those around us and lack mindfulness of the harm that the content we post could be causing to other people. Communication in social media should promote wellness and in this we should follow the famous rule of doing unto others as we would have them do to us. If we do not want anyone insulting our religion we should not insult another religion either. Therefore social media should not be about superi...