Guest Post by John Stossel
I now make my living by releasing short videos on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
I assumed you who subscribed to my feed or became Facebook “friends” would receive that video every Tuesday.
Wrong! Turns out social media companies send our posts to only some of our friends. (That’s why I ask for your email address. Then they can’t cut us off.)
Why might they cut us off?
One reason is that we’d drown in a fire hose of information if they showed us everything. The companies’ algorithms cleverly just send us what the computer determines we’ll like.
Another reason may be that the companies are biased against conservative ideas.
They deny that. But look at their actions. Social media companies say they forbid posts that “promote violence,” including ones that encourage violence offline.
But antifa groups that promote violence still have accounts. The Twitter account of the group in Portland, Oregon, that recently beat up journalist Andy Ngo, leaving him with brain damage, is still up.
“In Austin, they were calling for a paramilitary operation!” says Glenn Beck. That antifa group’s Facebook account is also still up, even though it links to a manifesto calling for opponents to be “beaten bloody.”
In my newest video, Beck, who runs a big media operation called The Blaze, says social media companies push a leftist agenda.
“They manipulate algorithms to reshape our world.”
Beck himself hasn’t been banned, but he says Facebook limits his reach, putting him in a “digital ghetto.”
“They’re shaping you,” he warns.
Is it true?
Although I’m not a conservative, sometimes I do notice odd things happening with my posts.
On average, my videos get more than a million views. But when I did one that criticized Facebook, that video got half as many views.
Because Facebook didn’t show it to many people?
I can’t know. Facebook won’t say.
Today, social media companies are pressured to cut off anyone spreading hate. In response, YouTube and Facebook say they now even demote content that almost violates policies.
But those antifa accounts are still up.
By contrast, Beck says, conservative accounts are censored merely for making fun of Democrats.
“Remember the person who slowed down (a video of House Speaker Nancy) Pelosi?” he asked.
The video made Pelosi sound drunk. It went viral, but once Facebook got complaints, the company announced it “dramatically reduced its distribution.”
When Facebook did that, notes Beck, “The person in charge happened to be one of the leaders in Nancy Pelosi’s office who had just left to go to work for Facebook.”
I told Beck that Facebook hires some Republicans. “They do,” he replied, “but only about 20%, and not in top level positions.”
The site Spinquark did the research Beck cites, finding dozens of Democratic campaign workers who now work for social media companies.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg once invited Beck and some others to come to his offices to talk about bias.
“I sat with him and he said, ‘Why would we do that?’ And I said, ‘I want to believe you, but your actions don’t match.'”
Beck was also unhappy with conservatives at that meeting. “Some said, ‘Mark, solve this by having affirmative action. … For every liberal you hire, hire a conservative.'”
“I don’t want that!” Beck said. “We don’t need more regulation!”
We don’t.
But it’s human nature, when people see a problem, to demand government do something.
Beck himself fell prey to that when Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claimed she saw border guards telling migrants to drink water from toilets. On his radio show, Beck said government should “prosecute anyone making outrageous charges like this!”
I gave him a hard time about that. “You want prosecution of members of Congress who say nonsense?!”
Beck laughed and quickly walked his statement back. “John, I speak five hours off script every day. … There’s a lot that I vomit out.”
The solution?
“No censorship,” says Beck.
“Publish everything?” I asked.
“Yes!” answered Beck. “We can handle it. Stop treating us like children.”
I agree. On at least some platforms, all speech should be free. The more that is blocked, the less we learn.
It is my sincere desire to provide readers of this site with the best unbiased information available, and a forum where it can be discussed openly, as our Founders intended. But it is not easy nor inexpensive to do so, especially when those who wish to prevent us from making the truth known, attack us without mercy on all fronts on a daily basis. So each time you visit the site, I would ask that you consider the value that you receive and have received from The Burning Platform and the community of which you are a vital part. I can't do it all alone, and I need your help and support to keep it alive. Please consider contributing an amount commensurate to the value that you receive from this site and community, or even by becoming a sustaining supporter through periodic contributions. [Burning Platform LLC - PO Box 1520 Kulpsville, PA 19443] or Paypal
-----------------------------------------------------
To donate via Stripe, click here.
-----------------------------------------------------
Use promo code ILMF2, and save up to 66% on all MyPillow purchases. (The Burning Platform benefits when you use this promo code.)
What is a grown man doing with a Facebook page? MySpace all booked up?
If you choose to eat at KFC, you can’t complain about the grease.
I like John Stossel, I enjoy reading his stuff. But he’s a whiny little bitch when he says “I now make my living by releasing short videos on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram” as if YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram OWE HIM a goddam thing. He can easily put up his own private paid-for website and attract private paid-for viewers if that’s his goal, and if he doesn’t get tons and tons of viewers because of algorithms or whatever it could actually be because nobody is seeking him out as a special person. Well, too fucking bad, boo hoo, you fucking pussy whiner.
Again, I go and look for his stuff, I read his stuff, I personally CHOOSE to read his stuff — and still I don’t think any of these companies owe him a goddam thing.
I personally consider myself libertarian, in terms of my political outlook. I don’t know if Stossel considers himself libertarian or conservative, but first and foremost if he’s arguing in favor of the free market and then complains because he is “blocked” from getting his point of view out there because he’s not willing to pay for it and risk his own money: Fuck him.
If I’m misunderstanding his point, then I apologize.
In the same vein, imagine if your phone service was suspended over conservative views. You can no more start your own phone company than your own youtube or facebook.
Imagine you couldnt buy gas, or fly on a plane because of your political views. There simply isnt enough difference. You cannot start your own platform at this point.
I can see the change in YouTube and i think adults can make decisions about what they want to watch. If you don’t like hunting, don’t watch hunting videos. Now they are gone. YouTube is a shadow of its former self.
The media is biased.
Fuck Facebook.
Glenn Beck…..LOL!
Appears we are already out of the pasture and crowded into the feedlot. Escape is now very difficult for the lower class cow. Not sure but it seems like a chute or something lies in the future. Maybe Hardscrabble can clarify.
John, you just now figured this out? Great!
Now what are you going to do about it? Join Gab perhaps, or bitchute, or one of the other new video sites? Why are you still bringing in revenue for people that censor you?
DO something! Something that reduces their revenue!