Free Speech on the Internet

Before Google's take over of YouTube and subsequent efforts to make the platform profitable, it seemed to me the internet was a place where anarchy was accepted. Many of the foundations of the internet were open-source projects, nobody questioned the existence of piracy sites like Limewire, and language was often R rated. Ideas you disagreed with you either ignored, avoided, or confronted, but there wasn't mass calls to "deplatform" people. This was under the belief that ideas could not be killed through force, so bad ideas had to be shareable so they could be discredited and weakened. Trying to hide anything only made it more popular.

Of those in my Christian circles who actually cared, there seemed to be two responses. 1. Trust that the truth will win and that all we need to do is live our lives accordingly, or 2. completely disassociate from society, culture, and anything relating to the internet. The later approach simply didn't work. As the Apostle Paul pointed out in 1 Corinthians 5:9-10, its impossible for Christians on this planet to avoid coexisting with sinners. All this self-isolationism actually does is weaken a believer's ability to communicate outside the church, love their neighbors, resist peer pressure, and handle criticism.

Why do I bring this all up? Because I now see a similar problem in secular society. Nobody trusts that truth will win anymore, instead creating their own little echo-chambers all across the internet, news media, and politics. All this has done is create individuals who can't tolerate their opposition. The Right cheers for public executions as the Left cheers for public assassinations. One celebrity calls for violence against Nazis while another calls for violence against Communists. What if the accused is ever innocent? What if cancel culture only brings fame to the causes we hate? What if all the power we wield against our enemies is one day wielded against us?

I believe Jesus was failed by every form of worldly judge. The religious leadership (Matthew 26:65), democracy (Luke 23:23) and finally the empire (Matthew 27:24). If humanity can crucify a perfect man, we're probably better off leaving judgment to God. Now you can disagree, and in fact I believe you have a right to. But I hope you can understand the point I'm trying to make. I'm not saying every private forum needs to be complete anarchy, just that we should learn how to parley and still coexist in public spaces.

Addendum:

I've been banned from Twitter and Facebook in the past with zero explanation. While banned I started searching around for alternatives, but quickly realized everyone was self-segregating and forming more radical platforms. Part of the reason I enjoy sites like FriendRewind is because it's one of the only places that still feels diverse. Like I could truly meet or reach any kind of person here, and that's what I've always believed was the best use for the Internet.