The Technology Giveth, And Taketh Away: How Tech Silences Us At The Same Time As Giving Us A Voice

In the modern age, we’re forever claiming that technology gives us a voice. It lures us into some sense of security about our rights and our ability to fight for them. Even in these turbulent political times, the ability to turn to social media is valuable. Thus far, it’s certainly been a way for people to share stories and fight against the powers that be.

Horrific tales of discrimination, for instance, have been broadcast on platforms like these since Trump’s presidency began. Worldwide coverage of every significant event has also led to various support campaigns and rallies which wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. On a fundamental level, even having a phone ensures you’re never isolated the way you would’ve been in the past. The majority of us now have access to the rest of the world at our fingertips. And, there are many people out there who are using that to do good.

But, we’re not here to wax lyrical about the connective benefits of technology. Instead, we’re going to consider whether this tech-based age is as good for free speech as we believe it to be. There’s no denying the benefits mentioned above. Technology often seems like the one thing which stops us from slipping into some dystopian reality. But, with Facebook and other large online corporations often hitting the news for the wrong reasons, there’s no denying tech has its dark side. It seems that as well as giving us a voice, technology helps to silence us in a few different ways.

For one, these platforms increasingly step away from the idea of ‘free speech’. While there isn’t any clear evidence, Trump has often claimed that online platforms censor far-right views. Many on the left would also argue that platforms like these silence their opinions. Many users who voice political opinions on these platforms either see their content taken down, or find themselves disappearing from search results. What’s more, Trump’s very own ‘fake news’ often falls foul to this. Facebook has long been searching for a way to highlight what they deem as fake news, but there are fears this is yet another censorship. The final judgement on what’s fake or not, after all, comes from a company who have ties with various figures in power.

Speaking of which, technology is often part owned by figures working with their own agenda. Consider the recent Smartmatic scandal, where Soros was accused on having shares in electronic voting devices. While this instance was proven not to have any grounding, it’s not a unique case. Even Facebook is guilty of using advertisements to favor political parties for payment. These technologies which we think give us a voice, then, could actually be manipulating us into losing the ones we already had.

Does this mean technology isn’t a fantastic platform for getting heard? Not at all. Perhaps, then, getting this right is simply about understanding how technology can silence us, as well as being aware of how it can give us a voice.