Social media has become a pervasive tool for information and entertainment. The impact of social media on current events, social media and politics is widely recognized. However, the leading social media sites have a continuous problem in dealing with political disinformation and extreme political views of both the left and right. They do not want to become tools of social propaganda or to flood individuals with widely recognized lies. For that reason, all the major social media sites that rely on user generated content impose user standards, review user posts, and impose editorial restrictions. The Supreme Court recently reviewed a case from Texas regarding restricting the editorial discretion of social media sites. The court’s summary action was preceded by detailed history of broad interest.
The standards and restrictions used by major social media sites impact many groups. But some political leaders have publicly expressed concern that they are being targeted based on their expressed opinions. This has been summed up as the “liberal bias” of Silicon Valley’s leaders. In 2021 the Texas legislature took action to counteract this perceived bias. In support of legislation in Texas restricting social media, Texas State Senator Bryan Hughes stated that Texas should pass a law to control social media to “allow Texans to participate on the virtual square free from Silicon Valley censorship.” Twitter, March 5, 2021, 10:48 p.m.
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