Deplatforming is a contemporary method where certain individuals or entities are barred or eliminated from contributing to a public forum or social media platform, typically as a result of contentious or damaging conduct. This practice, which traces back to the prohibition of specific speakers from U.S. university campuses in the 1940s, has developed with the rise of social media. Presently, platforms like Reddit, Facebook[1], Instagram[2], and Twitter utilize deplatforming to regulate content and curb the proliferation of extremism. High-profile cases, including the bans of personalities like Alex Jones and Donald Trump, have spotlighted its influence and sparked discussions around free speech, political impartiality, and the authority of tech corporations. Laws addressing deplatforming are being examined in numerous countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States. Nevertheless, the practice is contentious, with detractors voicing concerns about its implications on academic freedom and user rights. Despite these debates, deplatforming remains an important instrument in the digital era for managing content and directing online conversation.
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Deplatforming, also known as no-platforming, is a boycott on an individual or group by removing the platforms used to share their information or ideas. The term is commonly associated with social media.