❝❝A public forum is mostly open to anyone who would speak and write, but the owners and operators of the forum can't be held responsible for what others write and say.

A publisher selects content and is responsible for what is written and said.

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution does not apply to private entities or individuals.

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act is a decent compromise. If I am a publisher or broadcaster or webmaster, I'm under no obligation to provide a place for your thoughts and opinions. My choice controls the content. But that makes me responsible for the content.

If I don't provide the content, then I don't have liability.

The more moderation I provide, the more liability.

The job of social media is to provide access while people make up their own minds.❞❞

— Adapted from public forum vs. publisher in NeoWayland's lexicon

Tags: public forum ∙ publisher ∙ Section 230 ∙ Communications Decency Act ∙ First Amendment ∙ social media ∙ liability ∙ moderation