So How’s Your Self-Censoring Going?

I’ve been gone a while from my website; I’d been working on metaphysical, spiritual and paranormal videos primarily for TikTok (TT) which I also shared on YouTube and some on my site.

I recently withdrew from making videos. I had some thinking to do and decisions to make. Shortly before Thanksgiving, I announced on TT that I wouldn’t make any more videos for TT. Their rules – which are many – are left wide open for interpretation in their favor with no recourse for the content creators (such as account review or dispute). TT also enforced rules at their whim (for some, but not for others). Then the way they began treating their monetized content creators (in general) when the creators were due some hefty money for their work, they were banned; the money making video was “disqualified” (with no explanation), or some other excuse, thus short-changing the creators (I am not monetized). Isn’t that greed?

TT also began pressuring content creators to do more; post videos daily; post videos multiple times a day; do posters; do multi-photos, etc. More, more, more. I was getting annoyed.

The result of TT’s behavior so far is that content creators (generalized) began self-censoring. I had enough. (Can view that TT video on YouTube here).

Self-censoring, as defined (in part) by Google as, “…suppressing your own thoughts, opinions, or expressions to avoid negative consequences or conflict. It’s a voluntary act, but it often happens due to perceived pressure from a government, society, or other authority figures, leading individuals to hold back what they say or write.”

Back in 2019 I wrote, We Have Become the Frog in the Pot , and what I’ve been witnessing in the U.S. within some social media platforms seems to back my article.

Now, I’m not perfect – and never claimed to be – but I am baffled and annoyed that our society has become so malleable, complacent, compliant and self-restricting. What the heck happened? I’ve plenty of ideas on how, when and why, but I think those have been beat to smithereens. So I turn to, “What is our society going to do about it?”

In the United States, we have the RIGHT to free speech. “Self-restrictive” used to mean the act of self-restraint; self-control to keep one’s self from doing something wrong. How is the right to free speech doing something wrong?

On a personal note, I do not condone or support hate, harmful, racist, manipulative, or self-harming encouraging speech at all, and I don’t give it my energy; I opt out to play in that muck.

Please pay attention. Our RIGHTS are being suppressed; re-branded and presented as something less than, and/or deleted. It’s being done quietly while we’re busy staring into the camera, making and watching videos; while we’re fighting amongst ourselves; and/or while being distracted by nonsense.

It’s time to stand up and be heard; to quit being so self-censoring in the name of more views or so you won’t be shadow-banned or your channel cancelled.