strah on Nostr: The recent wave of bans, verification and blue check removals, demonetizations, ...
The recent wave of bans, verification and blue check removals, demonetizations, subscriber cancellations, and changes to the algorithm to effectively throttle the reach of dissenting voices on #x should be a watershed moment for Nostr.
The supposed “free speech public square” has shown itself to be no different than #twitter under Dorsey. Accounts that say unapproved things are being shut down or having their reach throttled. And for those that escape the ban hammer they can expect to have their voices muffled and their feeds scrubbed free of any wrongthink.
Does X owe them anything? No. Not even a platform to speak from. But for a company whose owner has been banging the drum of free speech and claiming, repeatedly, how X was *the* place for all voices, you can’t blame those affected for feeling betrayed and speaking up.
This will be a mask off moment for #elon who, between his earlier push for H1B visas (and subsequent bizarre responses) and, now, by banning/demonetizing/algorithmhas seen his support on the right evaporate. In just a few weeks he’s gone from libertarian tech darling to political pariah.
More worrisome than his actions taken on X, are the deeper concerns about his connections to the CIA, military, and public-private censorship and surveillance cabal. Whitney Webb (npub1g05…40hv) has been thorough, vigilant, and relentless in her reporting on this, and, if you haven’t already, I highly suggest following her and reading her research and perspective on the situation. It’s the best real journalism you’re going to encounter.
So, what can we do? Spread the word about #nostr on other platforms. Every voice that’s silenced somewhere else has a home here. Use your reach to share the value Nostr brings to those you follow and interact with who are feeling the squeeze. Share Derek Ross (npub18am…p424)'s excellent intro to Nostr video. Show them who is already here that is in their orbit. Be welcoming. Let this be the catalyst that starts the exodus from centralized, compromised, surveilled, controlled platforms for the masses.
The supposed “free speech public square” has shown itself to be no different than #twitter under Dorsey. Accounts that say unapproved things are being shut down or having their reach throttled. And for those that escape the ban hammer they can expect to have their voices muffled and their feeds scrubbed free of any wrongthink.
Does X owe them anything? No. Not even a platform to speak from. But for a company whose owner has been banging the drum of free speech and claiming, repeatedly, how X was *the* place for all voices, you can’t blame those affected for feeling betrayed and speaking up.
This will be a mask off moment for #elon who, between his earlier push for H1B visas (and subsequent bizarre responses) and, now, by banning/demonetizing/algorithmhas seen his support on the right evaporate. In just a few weeks he’s gone from libertarian tech darling to political pariah.
More worrisome than his actions taken on X, are the deeper concerns about his connections to the CIA, military, and public-private censorship and surveillance cabal. Whitney Webb (npub1g05…40hv) has been thorough, vigilant, and relentless in her reporting on this, and, if you haven’t already, I highly suggest following her and reading her research and perspective on the situation. It’s the best real journalism you’re going to encounter.
So, what can we do? Spread the word about #nostr on other platforms. Every voice that’s silenced somewhere else has a home here. Use your reach to share the value Nostr brings to those you follow and interact with who are feeling the squeeze. Share Derek Ross (npub18am…p424)'s excellent intro to Nostr video. Show them who is already here that is in their orbit. Be welcoming. Let this be the catalyst that starts the exodus from centralized, compromised, surveilled, controlled platforms for the masses.