Second Amendment advocate and social media influencer Colion Noir claimed on a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience that big tech companies frequently shadowban his content.
Noir isn’t alone. Even a cursory review of the most popular gun-related social media creators reveals a troubling, secretive, and ongoing trend toward the silencing of the Second Amendment community.
“Brother it’s bad,” Noir told Rogan. “If you saw what our numbers were before, in terms of who we were able to reach, and what they are now…”
“Shadowbanning” is an alleged practice of social media companies that limits the reach of objectionable content without actually banning those accounts. Big tech has never admitted to shadowbanning, but influencers say it’s common.
Another popular YouTuber, Mrgunsngear, has claimed for years that his posts are being throttled by Facebook. In a recent Instagram post, he included a screenshot from one of his followers that appeared to show Facebook incorrectly marking his videos as “watched.”
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Other outlets are facing the outright elimination of their channels based on unclear guidelines that appear to be inconsistently applied.
“It is unclear what the rules are,” Karl Kasarda told Fox News. Kasarda operates the YouTube channel, InRange TV.
“Specifically, with YouTube, they pretty much enforce whatever they feel based on their bias of the day. Regardless of your personal belief, firearms and their accessories are legal in the United States. So why are we seeing continuing restrictions and challenges towards content about something demonstrably legal yet not against that which is clearly illegal?” he asked.
Last year, Google banned an advertisement for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) for promoting “animal cruelty.” Google didn’t respond to the RMEF’s complaint until several Republican congressional representatives intervened and the clip was reinstated.
Many other gun-related channels, including educational and gun safety videos from Brownells, have faced similar discrimination.
Restrictive “community standards” combined with shadowbanning puts gun-related outlets in a kind of catch-22. Gun-related content isn’t allowed to be promoted with paid advertising, which means companies rely on organic growth. But shadowbanning significantly limits organic growth, and outlets are left with diminishing audiences and shrinking revenue.
The situation has forced some creators to turn to alternative social media platforms. Kasarda told Fox News that he posts his videos on PornHub. Others have jumped on sites like MeWe, and the Twitter-like website Parler has seen massive growth in recent months.
Who is Joe Rogain?
Someone you should be watching.
Isn’t there anyone in the gun world who can start a social media channel dedicated to the 2A and gun groups? I wish I had the wherewithal to do it. I appreciate all the hard work of those who are working to get info out.
Correction to the first comment: “anyone in the gun world who can”
Yeah, yeah. We know it’s happening (and has been for a while), the question is: What can we do about it?
This softer form of fascism is no different than antifa thugs who shout down conservative speakers on college campuses, or blm marxists who pummel pedestrians who refuse to agree with their racism, or thugs who rip down statues because they want to rewrite history. Throttling, shadow bannning, censoring all serve to remove an opinion counter to their own- which is nothing less than fascism, the ultimate political correctness. The President called them out, suggesting they editorialize and should therefor be regulated, not protected. He is right again. The best we can do for now is move business elsewhere but that is a tall order. It will take significant time make another platform as popular.
It is called the 1st amendment. They have been working on 2A now it is time to work on 1A. They try to destore 1 at a time so nobody notices.
What can we due. Stop using thier services. No viewer no channels. No channels no income. Boo Hoo we have to shut down!!!
Let’s not forget about the snowflakes at eBay who ban the sale of “icky bad” semi-auto rifle parts. It’s fun to watch them slowly kill their business though.