Twitter & Freedom of Speech: What is the price of free?

By the Loop Team

Over the last decade, the amount of Twitter users has risen from 30 million in 2010 to 330 million in 2019. With more people using the platform than ever before, the debate continues to rage concerning the pros and cons of Twitter as a platform for ‘free speech’. On one side, we have significant Cultural Icons like Donald Trump mercilessly trolling whoever he pleases seemingly without fear of retribution. A prime example of this was Greta Thunberg who, after being listed as Time Magazine’s 2019 ‘Person of the Year’, Trump publicly described on the platform as “So ridiculous. Greta must work on her Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Greta, Chill!”. On the other hand, Social Activism has thrived on the platform with hashtags including #blacklivesmatter and #metoo continuing to Trend. So what do we think about the platform at Loop? Is there or should there be a price for Freedom of speech?:

Freedom of speech, the power or right to express somebody's views or opinion without censorship, restraint of legal penalty. In certain circumstances, freedom of speech can be limited or restricted, the government has an obligation to inhibit hate speech and to protect the public interest and reputation of others. However, social media platforms like Twitter have recently arisen with a whole new group of people voicing their opinions for everyone to hear, no matter how unwanted. Yes, Piers Morgan, that’s you. Although social media platforms have become a new platform to exercise freedom of speech, there needs to be a line where people can't just take advantage of it and maliciously hide behind a screen to troll the internet. Figures holding great power and influence over somebody are just as much to blame than the 15 year old boys making anti-feminism or LGBT+ jokes on their Iphone 6 in their bedroom at night.

The idea of freedom of speech is extremely important - the ability to express your own opinion about a subject when it comes to anything: television programmes and movies, politics, and hundreds of other topics. However, it comes to a point where this ability can be abused to purposely bully someone for their alternative opinion or their actions - especially someone with influence over a lot of people. This is wrong - freedom of speech is a massively important thing to express yourself on social media but there is a point where it cannot be abused.

In my opinion we should treasure the right for freedom of speech as there are places across the world where people can not express their opinions and we are very lucky to be in a position where we can be heard. However there is a difference between freedom of speech and hate speech, as many can exploit their right to a freedom of speech by using it as a tool to throw abuse at people who are different to them.