Facebook and instagram took the extraordinary step last week of banning several “far right” commentators and one left-wing anti-semite (yeah, that was news to the washington post) from their platforms entirely.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom it was the latest in a series of moves over the past several months and years designed to curb what the platforms’ liberal management and ownership see as “dangerous,” albeit not illegal, speech.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom

Before jones, paul joseph watson, and milo, it was key “alt-right” figures like jared taylor, david duke and richard spencer being purged from various platforms.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom next, will it be religious groups that oppose gay marriage, anti-illegal immigration organizations or even those who don’t believe the entire third world should be brought to the united states en masse?Cognitive learning theory in the classroom maybe those affected are a few ideological steps away, but we should all be asking the question: how many steps until it’s us?

Sure, alex jones and infowars, much less louis farrakhan, have said and published a lot of things that are easy to disagree with.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom but in jones’ case, at least, nobody of any credibility has accused him of being a racist, and while some content on the infowars website certainly consists of outlandish speculation at best, such a description might have on occasion fit trump’s “fake news” targets the washington post and new york times.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom

In other words, it’s a slippery slope, one that leads us down an increasingly undesirable path where the only speech that is “acceptable” is that which does not offend a single person - or basically no speech at all.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom yes, it was done by a private corporation and not a governmental entity, and as such was legal, but such moves do have ominous portents about the future ability of conservatives to tell the truth and spread our message.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom

“free speech’s health has traditionally been measured in america not by what we will allow speakers to say, although that is important, but what listeners will tolerate,” he wrote.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom “if enough of us stomach the dissemination of wicked conspiracy theories, race hatred, radicalism, blasphemy, poisonous lies, militancy, fearmongering and ugliness, that’s a good sign that free speech has found a safe harbor.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom but if the government censors the bounders and miscreants who spew these ideas—or if corporations, churches and other organizations work to strangle their expressions—then free speech is in trouble.”

cognitive learning theory in the classroom

Okay, but what happens when that private corporation is a virtual (no pun intended) monopoly? I suppose there’s no need to ask, because it’s happening now.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom “don’t like it? Go start your own social media platform!” a conservative or libertarian might say smugly, as if it were just a matter of learning a little code and a making a quick visit to godaddy.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom yeah, good luck with that.

Sure, some have tried to make platforms to rival facebook and twitter (there’s the horribly hard to navigate gab, and have you ever heard of any of these facebook “alternatives?”), but any would-be competitors are sunk before they even begin by the very definition of a successful social network - everyone wants to be where everyone else is.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom once facebook and twitter - two different types of platforms - gained peak popularity as the platform of choice for that style, it became nearly impossible to dethrone them absent a shift of monumental proportions.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom even when companies create features people enjoy, facebook’s billions can simply purchase or copy them. Even if someone were willing to risk a few billion of their own dollars in a foolhardy attempt to create the “next facebook,” the user network is the key and they’d be starting at zero.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom facebook’s unparalleled user numbers combined with unrivaled riches amounts to a monopoly that would put U.S. Steel to shame.

But, what to do?Cognitive learning theory in the classroom let’s hope president trump will put his money where his mouth is on the issue and get SOMETHING done, but not every suggestion is a good one.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom texas senator ted cruz’s approach would potentially remove the immunity social media platforms that engage in speech censorship currently enjoy from section 230 of the communications decency act, which otherwise holds platforms legally liable for content posted by users.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom by cruz’s logic, if facebook sees itself as the arbiter of speech on the internet, they are no longer a “neutral public forum” and should not enjoy those benefits.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom except, would removing this protection merely hoist conservatives by their own petard by ‘forcing’ facebook to simply ban any speech it deems remotely questionable?Cognitive learning theory in the classroom

In his article on the subject, gillespie recommends that social media networks install a series of robust filters that allow people to block certain types of content, even if such content is posted by friends and family members.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom it would work, and it’s a great idea, but methinks these social media giants aren’t interested in a solution that allows free speech. Could they have more nefarious motives?Cognitive learning theory in the classroom after all, they want to ban speech, not debate or debunk it. Why? “what are they afraid of?” an inquiring mind might ask.

At any rate, the only viable solution - and the sooner every conservative and free-thinking liberal gets there, the better - is for these social media giants to be regulated just like any other public utility.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom while illegal speech such as harassment and incitements to violence would still be illegal and prosecutable, everything else would be allowed.Cognitive learning theory in the classroom