It is really unfortunate that the media outlets don't seem to understand free speech,

[JohnSJ]

and the first amendment in regard to Facebook

Facebook IS A PRIVATE COMPANY, not a government enterprise. It can setup its own rules, and whenever these debates occur, I find it disappointing that no one brings this up

If a company sets up rules for people to use its platform, and people don't abide by those rules, that company can block those people

[LetMyPeopleVote]

1. A public service announcement about First Amendment and free speech

[I_UndergroundPanther]

2. Great toon there.

[JohnSJ]

3. +++ Excellent!!! Thanks

[RKP5637]

4. K&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[TheProle]

5. Absolutely right.

But a broader societal issue that we will eventually come to terms with is the privatization of the public square.

[JohnSJ]

8. Is social media the "public square" or is the platform set the rules to use a particular platform?

[TheProle]

10. Increasingly, both.

Play out a scenario where authoritarian leaders make it increasingly difficult to publicly protest, driving the bulk of discourse online and then using the levers of power to incentivize or otherwise coerce online platforms to amplify or silence particular points of view and you end up in a bad spot.

[JohnSJ]

11. Looks that way

[Turbineguy]

6. Trump doesn't understand it either.

[UpInArms]

7. This 👆🏼

[Hassin Bin Sober]

9. Furthermore, users need to remember they are not the customer. Users are the product.

These websites are businesses that make their money on advertising. Advertisers don’t want to be associated with hate speech and goofy conspiracy nuts...

Unless the advertisers are get-rich-quick schemes, baldness cures, dick pills, and jujitsu fighting classes.