Freedom of Speech vs. Freedom of Reach: The Hidden Battle for Control
There is a massive problem with the world — censorship.
Censorship isn’t always about silencing speech in a direct, obvious way. Today, the lines are blurred. It’s not just about being able to say what you want; it’s about whether anyone can hear you. You might have the freedom to speak your mind, but if no one can access or engage with what you’re saying, that freedom is essentially hollow.
Elon Musk, in his discussions on the policy of X (formerly Twitter), coined the phrase, “freedom of speech, not freedom of reach.” This concept has since been parroted by X’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, who has ties to the World Economic Forum (WEF). Their stance highlights a growing trend in the tech world: allowing speech while controlling who gets to see it. While this isn’t a review of X, it’s important to explore the broader implications of this policy, because it raises a critical question: If your speech can’t be heard, is it really free?
The policy sounds reasonable on the surface, but it’s a subtle form of censorship. Limiting a person’s reach without outright banning them is becoming an increasingly powerful tool. Instead of overtly removing speech, platforms can push certain voices into the shadows. … Meanwhile, the platform remains free from accusations of direct censorship, allowing them to maintain the appearance of neutrality.
This problem extends far beyond X. It impacts the very foundation of free speech in the digital age. …
Platforms, both mainstream and alternative, are grappling with this challenge. In theory, they promise to be neutral grounds for open discourse… Are these platforms truly upholding the values of free speech, or are they selectively amplifying certain voices while quietly suppressing others? …
This dynamic begs deeper questions. Who decides what gets amplified and what gets pushed into the background? … Platforms often claim that their moderation decisions are neutral, yet we know that financial ties, external pressure, and internal biases can influence what gets seen.
Moreover, the very nature of the algorithms that drive visibility on these platforms is opaque. Users rarely know why one post reaches thousands while another barely gets noticed….
Not all platforms follow this path, though. Jeff Dornik, CEO of the alternative platform Pickax, has promised that Pickax will uphold not just the principle of free speech but also the principle of “freedom of speech and freedom of reach.” This commitment is refreshing in a time when reach is so often manipulated to control discourse. Again, this isn’t a review of Pickax, but it’s worth mentioning as an example of a platform that openly addresses both speech and reach as core values.
…it’s about a critical principle. If you don’t have the freedom of reach, your freedom of speech becomes meaningless. The ability to reach an audience is just as crucial as the ability to speak freely. …
In this environment, it is essential that users remain vigilant. We must question how platforms operate, how they handle reach, and who is pulling the strings. Users deserve transparency and clarity about how their voices are being treated, whether they’re being amplified, suppressed, or simply ignored. Platforms that fail to provide this transparency should be held accountable.
This isn’t just about one company or one policy. It’s about protecting the right to speak and to be heard. As the digital world continues to evolve, the fight for true free speech—speech that has the power to reach an audience—will only grow more important.
Daughter reported that Trump was in Midland today. He sure gets around.
Hassan Nasrallah’s son-in-law, Hassan Jafar Qassir, may have been killed in airstrikes in the Mezzeh neighborhood in Damascus on Wednesday, according to early reports published by Sky News Arabic.Hassan is the brother of Muhammad Jafar Qassir, who was killed in a strike in Beirut on Wednesday [last week] the Iranian attack on Israel.Hassan’s assassination is another severe blow to Hezbollah as its… Read more »
I can’t believe no one commented on my 7:15 pm comment from last night. Full sized modern farm tractor laying down serious rubber in a road race against a 1000cc Kawasaki.
The simple solution would be to null and void the state’s 54 electoral votes.
problem solved.
so simple even a cowardly pull my finger party candidate could do it.
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/newsom-outlaws-voter-id-rules-california
Sorry for the Astros and for all the fans having their baseball for this year end so quickly.
Screw the Yankees.
Detroit is a young, scrappy group that haven’t been this far. And I like Hinch.
I’m sticking with them.
BTW. Yes I am a Yankees fan
Former (fired) Astro manager AJ Hinch got him a little shot in. Asked about winning in the ballpark he is so familiar with in October, “Isn’t baseball great? Unbelievable!” (smirks and walks away)
I hate being right. Now I gotta spray air freshener throughout the house. ASTROS just stunk up the place.
If the Astros lose, I have a backup……
GRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Fire the hippy.
Trade Presley too
Scoring is the greatest rally killer.
Prophesized by GJT
2-1 Astros. I might be wrong. GEAUX STREAUXs
I might be wrong
The wife of Karl “The Pig” Rove is a gambling lobbyist who sits on the board of the TAMU’s A&M PAC.
She’s also a taxpayer-funded lobbyist for a number of cities and local governments.
Rick Perry is also a gambling lobbyist and Senior Advisor to Drunk Dave Phelan.
Walz wandered into the wrong bar.
TRADE BREGMAN PUHLEASE
Reflecting on the keto story linked below, I reflected on a question I was asked at my checkup this morning. The doctor asked if I had any questions, and I paused as I looked at the exam room walls papered with info and ads for managing diabetes. Finally, I just said “No.” I’m going to wait until my labs come… Read more »
Remember back in the 1980s when all the Democrats mocked and shamed President Reagan for believing in a defensive ground-to-air missile idea.
The Israeli Iron Dome is the grandchild of Star Wars missile defense theories. Ronald Reagan is smiling up in the heavens.
Astros gonna lose
In cleaning out the porch recently, I discovered multiple spider egg sacs on the bottom of one of my stools, so I set it out in the sun. They were still there today, accompanied by the biggest black widow spider I’ve ever seen. Since I’m not a squisher, I grabbed the nearest toxic substance at hand – lighter fluid for… Read more »
Did we post TWIP this week? I must have missed it.
But here’s a funny one:
I believe Shannon linked to this yesterday. This is a savage attack by Matt Taibi on the nastiest thugs on the Left in America. I wish I had written it. Transcript from an excerpt of the Taibi’s speech before RFK & Michelle Shanahan’s Make America Healthy Again group. HT: Stephen Green. So let me pause to say something about America’s… Read more »
Speaking of healthy sunshine, I need to go out there and pray my rosary. I couldn’t follow my usual routine this morning. Back in a bit.
h/t CFP: The Skeleton is an Endocrine Organ and Sugar Destroys It Tracy Beanz & Michelle Edwards More news from the keto world: Scientists have known for years that sugar is highly addictive. It is also factual that, despite being in almost all products consumed today, the body needs no added sugars—meaning those that aren’t naturally occurring—to survive. I’ve heard that sugar is… Read more »
Speaking of 1 Palestinian killed. It was caught on video. This guy knows how Wiley Coyote feels.
WARNING nay be disturbing to some people. Bottom of the page.
Psalm 124:1 Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep.
Truly this missile attack by Iran was more of a failure than successful. Yes Israel suffered damage but not one Israeli died. Well done Iran.
Not only are wealthy Californians fleeing to Texas, their rich criminals are hiring Texas defense attorneys for, I am sure, confiscatory fees.
P. Diddy didn’t kill himself.
*trying to avoid the rush
They have to take Diddy out, the rich and powerful who participated in this criminal debauchery would be ruined if it all became public. In their eyes, that is worth killing for. I feel pretty confident that the same reason is why Epstein was terminated.
Lawyer Buzbee proclaims that the Diddy case is gonna step on a lot of toes.
I expect Diddy to be arkancided/Clintoncided/Epsteined any day now.
And then, on to smearing Trump with WWIII fears: Yesterday, the New York Times ran an insidious and troubling straight news story headlined, “Trump’s Consistent Message Online and Onstage: Be Afraid.” The deeply deceptive sub-headline added, “Donald Trump has long used fear as a tool to stir up his conservative base. He’s taking his doomsday approach to a new extreme,… Read more »
Mr. C. comments on the ME situation: Israel is making “incursions” into Lebanon, against Hezzies, but there are varying reports on how invasive these incursions are. Israel is now fighting on basically every front: Hezzies, Hamas, Houthis in Yemen, and now Iran. Iran sent many missiles into Israel, but if any, how many, made contact is unclear. Israel is reporting… Read more »
Re the VP debate last night: J.D. Vance won the debate because he is wicked smart, well-spoken, and was unburdened by the necessity of pretense. He could just be himself. Walz carried the burden of two different jobs last night: he had to debate Vance, but at the same time he also had to pretend to be a living cartoon… Read more »
Checking in late, I have no excuse except that I slept real late, almost to 6 AM. That’s because I went to bed about 11 PM last night after watching the debate. It was a pretty good debate and it might not move the needle but Trump’s sidekick, Al Borland, did a very good job articulating Trump’s plans and past… Read more »
The C&C is finally up: First up – an update on the hurricane victims fund: This morning, the Trump Authorized GoFundMe for Helene victims surged past $3,700,000 — more than double where it began yesterday morning. Great work, team C&C! Now, the new commentary: Starting with Helene – how devastating and deadly that hurricane has been. The problem being “all the water”.… Read more »
Pachapapa has invented new sins. In case you didn’t know, he’s not allowed to do this. It’s diabolical. The sins for which we must be forgiven are from Scripture, from God. In case he didn’t know it, pachapapa is not God. And the spineless bishops acquiesce, since they don’t want to be canceled, like so many other good priests and… Read more »
I am cooking Syrian Jewish M’Jedrah this morning. I hope it turns out.
I love it when 1A rights are upheld. Sorry if your feelings got hurt. /not
Busy today in the kitchen for Rosh Hashanah and trying to get other things done.
Israel is beginning to learn why most Americans love their 2nd Amendment rights. The civilian Israeli guy who shot the terrorist gunmen yesterday on the street in Tel Aviv and saved lives is a survivor of the Nova festival on October 7, 2023. He was armed with a concealed pistol, walking down the street, wearing shorts and flip-flops when he… Read more »
One of my favorite people is Congressman Byron Donalds of Florida. He’s a fearless, articulate and informed debater. Donalds comes off like a black JD Vance. He went on the lefty, black Charlemagne the God’s podcast and destroyed a hardcore leftist Kamala sycophant. Here is the video.
Instant Karma bites him on the front and the cop gets him from behind.
I would have been pointing and laughing like a hyena at him.
NASA Sis got back to me regarding the banner project that Father tasked to me. It seems that the images I’ve been sent are waaaaayyyy to small to be useful. She used the word “flabbergasted”. I think I’m going to have to be more diplomatic when I relay this information to my pastor. Priests can be a bit touchy when… Read more »
I had a very hard physical day yesterday. I went to bed right after the debate started and and didn’t wake up the first time until 2:30 AM, went back to bed and slept till 5:30 AM.
Man, were we all sleeping in this morning? Except Bones, it seems.
I gotta get some stuff done for Hubby before my doctor appointment, so here I am…
HUMP DAY FIRSTICUS!