I know there is a lot of discussion as to whether we are in a censorious age, with people left, right and centre wanted to silence people whose views they disagree with. And there seems to be an underlying current suggesting that there was once a kind of golden age for free speech which is now being eroded.
However I wonder whether that golden age is actually now. Never before has it been so easy to have your voice heard, and heard by millions. Social media has been a complete game changer in that respect.
Previously (as now) you could say pretty well whatever you liked (with some limits), but to be able to be heard by more than a tiny number of people required some form of 'distribution' network - whether that be print or broadcast media. And those that run those media outlets exercised great control over what was, and was not, permitted to be printed or broadcast. So if you had a view which was challenging, then you might put it out in a self-produced pamphlet or newsletter, but your audience would be tiny. Try to get agreement to put out those views view the mainstream media routes would likely mean hitting a brick wall.
Now, of course, social media and the internet allows individuals to get their views out to millions. And of course will generate strong opposing views in response.
I think we are still taking baby steps in this brave new world of social media largely without editorial control and we are struggling to get the balance right. But I don't think we are in a world where the ability of people to get their views heard by millions is somehow being curtailed compared to, say the 1980s. Quite the reverse.
