Thread by @ClarkeDynamics

Donald Trump plans to sign an #ExecutiveOrder over social media tomorrow. I'm a social media manager for center-right political organizations and figures - so let's talk about why that's probably a horrible idea: a thread.

So the issue, on paper, is that social media companies appear to either censor, fact-check, or limit content that conservative users put up - sometimes in obtuse ways, sometimes in subtle ways.

This isn't entirely incorrect - oftentimes right-leaning social media users engage in conduct that violates or treads the line on social media terms of service.

Companies like Facebook and Twitter have, over the last several years, worked to carefully balance making their platforms a space that's welcoming to an older conservative audience, and their largest and fasted growing target demographic - young people.

Typically speaking, an audience that is more accepting of traditionally different ideas, of changes in societal norms, and of accepting and even welcoming the difficulties and preferences of gender and ethnic minorities.

Unfortunately, as the political divide in our country has continued to worsen, the differences between these two groups has grown more hostile - and it's led to angry rhetoric, misinformation, and outright incitements of violence online.

SM companies have responded exactly how any other business would - by looking at the people in their "store" making a ruckus and telling them to get out.

But with social media becoming so universally ubiquitous, it's becoming more and more common for people to claim that these platforms aren't businesses - they're public forums, and should be treated as such when it comes to things like the First Amendment.

It's a compelling argument, especially for the groups that feel they're being suppressed.

Yet, anyone looking to pass legislation, sign a bill, or ram through an executive action on this issue should pause and seriously consider the impact that it would have.

Shifting the sentiment that digital communication platforms are private entities subject to their own rules to one where they're treated like public spaces has a chilling effect on the future of digital communications.

It empowers this Administration, and the next, and the next, and the next to make sweeping decisions about the nature of speech on digital platforms. It cracks open the door a little more for the same outside of the digital sphere.

It discourages innovators and entrepreneurs in the digital space to stay invested and creating new amazing services - the next Twitter or YouTube.

It strips the freedom from Silicon Valley businesses to shape their products how they want to.

Altering the interpretation of the First Amendment around social media is, in and of itself, an infringement of the First Amendment - and I sincerely hope we have a true opportunity to oppose it. /thread

#ExecutiveOrder