This post is a response to the question "Thirty years ago, before the Internet was invented, a problem like online censorship would not have arisen. As online interactions and globalization increase, what issues with internet censorship and “cancel culture” could you foresee in the future?"
posed by @julie.blank14
This is a great question that dives into the changing world that we live in today. Of course, online censorship is a relatively new problem with the advancement of the internet, but censorship of information has always been a problem. This could range anywhere from burning books to censoring Elvis Presley’s dance moves. Regardless of the actual object being censored, censorship will continue to occur online as technology advances.
There are some issues that could arise regarding censorship and the new wave of “cancel culture” in the future. With the advancement of cameras and seemingly everything being recorded in one way or another, more and more people are going to be getting “canceled” for the most ridiculous stuff. Many people have nothing better to do all day than to get mad at celebrities on social media for not donating enough of their money to charity or making a political incorrect joke 20 years ago. I am not sure how long it will take for society as a whole to realize how insanely dumb cancel culture is. My point is though that it will continue to happen more and more to the point where no one is safe.
I believe online censorship will also continue to grow as the nation continues to be divided politically. Certain media outlets on both sides will continue to withhold information that does not promote their political parties agenda, and social media outlets will do the same in restricting the promotion of certain political figures’ posts or tweets. If swift action does not take place soon, the spread of all knowledge, not just the knowledge the media wants you to know, could be in shambles.
Fortunately, action is taking place. With platforms such as Hive and 3speak, we have hope for communities without censorship. However, until those platforms are widely accepted and utilized, online censorship will remain an issue in not only the United States, but throughout the world.