Relentless attacks on free speech and those supporting it remain a major issue in politics, business, and in our society. The censorship of information, ideas, and people on social media essentially eliminates the open marketplaces of ideas. As technology companies (like Meta) remain eager to cooperate with the suppression of accurate information feared by the radical left, Elon Musk sees a big opportunity.
Many were critical and skeptical of Musk’s purchase of Twitter. While promising to be an advocate for free speech, he spent $44 billion on a social media platform that had diminished so much that it had become nothing more than a left-wing echo chamber.
Twitter was perhaps the most expensive fire sale in history. However, to the surprise of many, Musk took his Free Speech absolutist philosophy to Twitter – and even with a few hiccups along the way – he is beginning to succeed yet again. His success is based on changes that allow all voices (regardless of ideology) to be included. He also favors real voices over bots.
Musk was fast to make changes. He released the Twitter files, reinstated banned accounts, allowed parody, and seemingly most fact-checking is now based on fact. While not out of the woods yet, perhaps Musk wasn’t too late to save Twitter, especially with the new addition of Tucker Carlson’s show. As Twitter changes continue and these changes sink in, the radical left is realizing it has lost a major asset in the control and distribution of information and politics.
Everyone must now play by the same rules when sharing ideas and information on Twitter. If they don’t like playing fairly – they can go elsewhere.
As Musk rebuilds Twitter, his competitors continue to attack – not just his platform – but also the value of free speech. This week Meta (formerly Facebook) launched Threads – a platform many have nicknamed the ‘Twitter Killer’. I’ll admit that I’m skeptical of the success of the new platform and the motivations behind it.
Usually, people start businesses because they have something new, better, faster to offer. It seems with Threads, the woke left and Zuckerberg have teamed up simply to try to take down a freer speech platform. Rather than build up a viable alternative, they are desperately trying to regain the monopoly of information distribution they enjoyed previously (which really helped them in 2020). Musk is uncontrollable in their eyes – and those who thirst for power demand control of information distribution.
While Threads is signing up users quickly (I remember the waitlist for Truth Social), it will need to be a fair platform and avoid embracing woke culture at the expense of free speech the way Mark Zuckerberg is accustomed. Previous censorship and fact-checking of conservative voices on Facebook suggest he is a hard-left advocate – and are plenty of those in the traditional and legacy media today. If history is any guide, Zuckerberg will continue to edit, suppress, or ban content and people (former President Trump’s accounts were just reinstated earlier this year.)
Does anyone trust Meta to determine what is friendly and fair – especially with its history?
While Threads is boasting some big names early on - I see zero chance of Tucker Carlson bringing his show to a forum run by those instrumental in the suppression of information and ideas. Likewise, Donald Trump is unlikely to participate in giving the new platform and credibility or additional attention (although his recent visit to his rival CNN helped him despite his long grudges)
The $44 billion Musk paid for Twitter did not include the “success tax” he will continue to pay as his efforts to promote openness and embrace free speech continue. He will continue to make enemies like Zuckerberg (and Trump) as he continues to disrupt the radical left’s preferred means of control. When opposing views are given fair consideration in the media, it leads to the uni party's disdain.
The well-funded attacks will continue – but eventually, fail the way traditional media is already failing now. My prediction is that Threads will become what Twitter was before Musk took over – a failing left-wing echo chamber.
Will Threads present any alternative that proves to be better than Twitter? A differentiated user experience? More engaging content? Opportunities to monetize? Probably not as others with significant resources have been trying with limited success. There is little (if any) incentive for users to abandon Twitter and try Threads – unless of course voices are treated equally regardless of political affiliation – don’t hold your breath.
Shaun McCutcheon is a Free Speech advocate, an Alabama-based electrical engineer, the founder of Multipolar, and was the successful plaintiff in the 2014 Supreme Court case McCutcheon v. FEC.
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