- Tesla CEO Elon Musk is considering releasing his own free speech social media platform, but additional consideration of issue unveils free speech might not be that amusing.
- Elon Musk made a tweet earlier this week, asking the folks whether there is a need for a new social media platform.
- But Brian Leiter, writer of “Case Against Free Speech,” thinks that free speech should not be considered as naturally good stuff.
New Social Media Platform?
Elon Musk took Twitter to a modern-day public town square. But instead of a venue for open exchange for ideas, Musk criticized the platform for failing to keep free speech, leading to a subversion of democracy.
He then asked his followers on Twitter what can be done regarding this issue. In doing so, boosting speculations that he strategizes to release his own contending social media platform.
As of now, all prime social media platforms are centralized and so facilitating agendas are not privy to public. Therefore, if Elon Musk needs a free speech social media platform, an idea would be to utilize blockchain technology.
Tesla CEO neither did confirm nor did he deny this idea of bringing a new social media platform. He stated that he is giving serious thought regarding it.
As conversation regarding this topic evolved, some recommended that, instead of developing own social media platform, why won’t he just go and buy Twitter.
A Twitter user responded to his tweet, supported this notion. He stated that Among the best things about Elon Musk taking possession of Twitter or commencement of his latest platform would be that there will be a pot of Dogecoin.
Elon Musk responded the user through a 100 emoji, presumably as a Dogecoin endorsement for tipping.
In any case, a genuine free speech social media platform means enabling anybody and everybody to post anything they want. Anything less than that cannot be counted as free speech.
Free Speech’s Negative Aspect
Brian Leiter, a Political philosopher, who scripted the book “The Case Against Free Speech,” makes arguments that free speech should not be seen as inherently good stuff. This does not mean that he favors restrictions and censorship of private and public comms.
Rather, Leiter objects to the notion that liberty is measured by extent we are enabled to speak what we want freely. Concluding this, he highlights this issue, that what folks wants to speak and do is beyond control.
He stated that, everybody is conditioned by environment, and what folks want and think are actually products of psychological, social, and economic forces beyond control.
In more real terms, there are also moral and social ramifications of unchecked free speech. David Schwartz, CEO of Ripple responds to Elon Musk’s Tweet by stating that this would motivate dissemination of coarse content.
As much as free speech is held ethical, some kind of censorship is required to upkeep social cohesion. A deeper problem lies in who decides what should be done and what shouldn’t.
Source: https://www.thecoinrepublic.com/2022/03/30/elon-musk-releasing-latest-social-media-platform-with-free-speech/