Is freedom of speech even still a thing?

[Anonymous]

Here's a simple example that happens to me all the time.

Instagram in its infinite wisdom constantly decides that my comments (which are basic non provocative statements most of the time) are spam and proceeds to remove them.

Reminding me every day that my freedom of speech means absolutely nothing and that I can only comment what they want me to comment and nothing else.

Imagine fighting and dying for freedom for hundreds of years only to have it stripped away by a sentient lizard like Zuckerberg

And this is just one example. But the same thing happens all over social media.

My unpopular but unwavering opinion is:
The right to express yourself should be more important and sacred than keeping the echo chamber "clean". So long as you're not inciting violence upon other people

Updates

+1 y

To answer the whole "these are private companies" argument:Private companies are not allowed to sell your data without consent, the law protects your right to privacy. Yet it does not protect your right of expression, and it should. We need a law that prevents social media companies from picking and chosing who gets to speak and gets to be quiet.

[DarkLegacy]

There was never any freedom of speech on social media, but what i do not like is the hypocrisy. they are selective of what they take down juts like this site, for instance criticize women and it gets removed and yet women can make death threats or glorify and advocate violence to men and it doe not get removed.

That is true of this site and other social media sites. We here in the UK have criminalized hate speech and saying things online that is grossly offensive. In New Zealand you can be prosecuted for saying hurtful things.

Freedom of speech is basically a right to say what you like in public and was designed to stop the government from suppressing it's people, it does not apply online, and cutting down on spam is a good thing.

[jahaims]

You don't understand how it works. A private business doesn't have to allow you to use their platform how you see fit. That isn't impeding on your freedoms lol. Using it or not is elective.

[Asker]

I do understand that. Maybe my update wasn't clear enough.

My question is "how can we consider ourselves free to express ourselves if the law allows companies to play tyrant with our ability to speak?"

And while the argument that a free market means companies should not be restricted is valid. The fact is there are laws that restrict companies as it is.
There are anti-monopoly laws.
There are data privacy laws.
So why can't we push for free speech laws that prevent companies from playing god with our opinions?

[avery58]

These are privately owned companies, they can remove what they want. Freedom of speech means you can say whatever you want without facing punishment from the government, as long as it's not a threat to someone's life or something like that.

[Anonymous]

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok etc are all privately owned companies and may choose what is and isn't allowed. Right to refuse service to anyone, as any other business.

[Agape93]

Freedom of speech simply means the government can't tell you what you can and cannot say. It doesn't free you from consequences or free you up to say shit online when it goes against TOS you agreed to abide by.

[Ez-Bri-Z_v2]

Freedom of speech is so that the government can't crack down on you for most speech. It doesn't apply to social media or online forums that have a business to run and stockholders to appease.

[In_Trance]

It was never a thing