Silicon Valley measures to remove President Trump from social media are a manifestation of the power that companies have avoided for nearly four years. Now, Twitter Inc., Facebook Inc. and others must consider the following.
In a few days, Twitter and Facebook – Mr. Trump’s main social media megaphones – have taken steps to silence the president’s personal accounts or online communities dedicated to him, citing rules banning content that incites violence. They were joined by companies such as Snap Inc. and Reddit Inc.
Apple Inc., Amazon.com Inc. and Google Alphabet Inc. they also took steps to launch Parler, an application and social media site that has grown in popularity among conservatives – and which some insurgents had used to promote Wednesday’s attack on the US Capitol, according to screenshots viewed by The Wall Street Journal.
Actions against Mr. Trump and Parler illustrate more clearly than ever the influence of companies on online conversation – and the political nature of their decisions. Although praised by many, the expulsion of the president and some of his supporters angered others who said it was tantamount to censorship, and the moves risk driving some users away in a way that, especially for Twitter, would could reshape business. It also illustrates the political nature of how it determines what content to eliminate, what content to allow, and what to amplify.
“Rightly or wrongly, they have made a political decision,” said Jonathon Hauenschild, director of the communications and technology task force of the American Exchange Legislative Council, a nonprofit conservative group on corporate movements. The focus on technology giants “was there for the beginning. Now the spotlight is on, “he said.