@cryptocracyOnNoiseApp 27 July 2022 more from that month

Since the day I entered the crypto space in 2018, I’ve heard the warnings about the threats that Web2 platforms like Facebook and Twitter pose to personal security and content freedom. I’ve witnessed vicariously through the headlines the devastation that such events as Cambridge Analytica can have on people’s lives. And I saw how Twitter canceled a sitting president simply for exercising his First Amendment right to free speech—even though he said things that ought not to have been said. This past week, the power of Web2 hit closer to home. I went to post Monday’s newsletter to my top three Web2 social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn), as I usually do, only to be shown a warning on Facebook that such content has been identified by some Facebook users as abusive and that my posting privileges have been temporarily suspended. Evidently, that was just for a couple of days because I can now post again. While two days isn’t a long duration, you can bet that if it happens again, then the suspension will be for a longer duration. My suspicion is that three times will get me a permanent ban. I find this disconcerting for several reasons: It came with no warning. Facebook has no policy restricting cryptocurrency information. There are some restrictions on advertising. However, those restrictions do not impact “blockchain technology news” or “services and products based on blockchain technology that are not a virtual currency.” Since all of the content I share on Facebook is curated news, there’s absolutely no reason to block it, restrict it, or censor it in any way. It’s not like I’m shilling a dozen sh!tcoins and pushing pump and dump schemes. I’m just publishing information. There was no investigation. All it took to have my account suspended was at least one other Facebook user reporting my content as abusive or harmful. Facebook did not reach out to me personally, nor did they check my posting history to see the nature of the content I’ve been posting (if they had, they’d have seen how harmless it is). It was simply report and restrict. This could happen to anyone. Rest assured, if it happens to one person, it could happen to anyone—even you. If all it takes is one Facebook user flagging a post as abusive or offensive with no investigation on Facebook’s part, then anyone can be restricted for any reason at any time. This can affect someone who posts the most innocuous content regarding race, religion, race, gender politics, opinions on economics, or pet pics and selfies. Anyone can be restricted for any reason at any time. I’ve known this for a long time. I wrote about it in my book Cryptosocial: How Cryptocurrencies Are Changing Social Media. I even presented numerous examples of social media de-platforming, demonetization, shadow banning, and more within the pages of my book. All the while, I’ve been posting crypto content on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn with no issues whatsoever—until now. So, what does this mean to you? First, if you are not a subscriber to Cryptocracy, I encourage you to subscribe at Substack today to ensure you never miss an issue. If you read this newsletter on any social media platform—including the cryptosocial media platforms I write about in my book, you should still consider subscribing to ensure you never miss an issue. While some of the platforms I write about are decentralized and will not censor users, some of them are centralized and may restrict my content or yours at any time. If you subscribe to Cryptocracy at Substack, you’ll receive it in your email inbox at the appointed time and can read it whenever it suits you. Sidebar: I am making provisions for the content to be delivered by other means outside of Substack—stay tuned! Another thing, and the main point of this article, is this: As a social media user, you can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines and wait for one of the legacy social media platforms to decide to restrict you, ban you, or interfere with your ability to share your content. Web3 has arrived and developers are building the tools, right now, to allow content creators more control over their content assets, more content monetization options, and better data and identity security. I write about some of these tools in Cryptosocial. Moving forward, I will be diving deeper into cryptosocial media and Web3 culture for myself. I encourage you to do the same. https://read.cash/@cryptocracy/facebook-restricted-me-and-now-im-more-sold-on-web3-than-ever-233f117c