The Rise of Censorship on Social Media

The episode explores how the acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk in 2022 marked a pivotal moment for free speech on social media platforms. After Musk suspended the account tracking his private jet, initiated by teenage coder Jack Sweeney, a series of events unfolded, leading to the suspension of several journalists covering the story. This incident highlighted the increasing arbitrary nature of content moderation, as Musk claimed without evidence that these journalists were sharing his location, which raised concerns about the transparency and accountability of such decisions. Since then, experts indicate that Twitter, now referred to as X, has increasingly become a hub for unchecked hate speech, signaling a broader deterioration of online discourse.