02/23/2024

SCOTUS Could Determine the Future of Social Media Content Moderation

This could significantly alter how social channels share content

Next week, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) will hear arguments for two cases that could determine the fate of social media content moderation.

In 2021, the states of Florida and Texas both passed laws that aim to address social media sites' content moderation practices and their perceived bias against conservative viewpoints. The cases being heard in SCOTUS next week were both filed by industry groups representing the social media sites, who argue that the laws infringe on their First Amendment rights to decide what content they publish and promote.

If the laws are upheld, then the platforms' ability to curate their newsfeeds to make them more engaging for users could be severely curtailed, drastically altering social media sites. Whichever way the Court rules, the outcomes of the two cases could set the precedent for how content moderation is handled in the U.S. for decades to come.

Please select this link to read the complete article from TIME.