Social media faces reckoning as Trump ban forces reset

The de-platforming of Trump underscored the immense power of a handful of social networks over information flows, noted Schafer. — AFP

WASHINGTON: Social media giants crossed a threshold in banning US President Donald Trump and an array of his supporters – and now face a quandary on defining their efforts to remain politically neutral while promoting democracy and free speech.

After the unprecedented violence in the seat of Congress, Trump was banned for inciting the rioters – on platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Google-owned YouTube and Snapchat. The alternative network Parler, which drew many Trump backers, was forced offline by Amazon’s web services unit.