In this world today, media influences almost every aspect of our lives. What started as a form of mass communication to spread information to the public has turned into something much more influential, and at times, corrupt. The advancements in technology over the decades have provided us with faster and more efficient ways of communication. However, these innovations can have negative impacts such as enabling censorship.
One of the biggest issues in the media today is the concept of media censorship. Censorship involves the restriction of information, communication, or other forms of media. There are many reasons as to why a government chooses to censor something, but they all stem from a desire to influence the opinions of the public. Since we are exposed to so much media each day, it has a large impact on how we think and act.
Furthermore, the content of the media persuades us to the creator’s and distributor’s desired opinion. This is extremely concerning because most of the time, we engage with media without even knowing it. Also, censorship inhibits our ability to express our own thoughts and opinions.
To showcase how censorship impacts our world, look to Russia. Although Russia continues to reassure the world that their citizens have access to the main social media and internet platforms, they were able to find a loophole.
Russian Censorship
Russia developed a media and internet regulator called Roskomnadzor. This agency can surveil the actions of all media consumers in the country. It can track their searches, posts, and trends in their community. From there, Roskomnadzor can order for the platforms to censor certain oppositional content.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the agency formed a “website blocklist with over 1.2 million URLs” and sent “numerous censorship orders to companies like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Google Search, YouTube, and Pinterest.” Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development has gone even stricter by “dictating which TV and radio broadcasters get licenses.”
Once the agency gains control of a media platform, they use propaganda and censorship to persuade Russia’s citizens into believing that invading Ukraine was the right thing to do.
Professor Konstantin Sonin of the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy discusses how censorship has affected the citizens of Russia, stating “now that 20 years have passed of Mr. Putin’s rule, a lot of people don’t need to be told what to say, and how to present certain topics. They already know. It’s not self-censorship; it’s just living in life censorship.” This quote highlights how Russia’s strict media regulations have already dictated a censored way of life.
From an outside perspective, it is evident that Russia was not justified in their invasion of Ukraine. Putin’s regime, and the media regulation agency Roskomnadzor attempted to completely contaminate their citizens’ minds with their desired propaganda.
Some citizens have been smart enough to understand the wrongful actions of their government. They have tried to spread the word. However, Roskomnadzor’s surveillance and censorship stay one step ahead, shutting down dissent before it starts and keeping the rest of the Russian citizens left in the dark.
