The article discusses the pervasive nature of censorship and its acceptance in some societies, highlighting the move towards decentralization in the age of Web3 as a potential solution for freedom of speech.
Centralized censorship is depicted as efficient, with corporations and platforms playing a significant role in filtering content and shaping narratives to encourage self-censorship.
Current decentralization efforts aim to distribute power across protocols and networks, making it difficult for any single entity to suppress voices entirely.
However, the article emphasizes the need for decentralized tools to be more user-friendly to compete with centralized platforms, as usability often triumphs over principle.
Decentralization faces the challenge of making censorship more tangible and relevant to users who may not perceive current censorship issues as a threat.
The article suggests a shift towards offensive tools in decentralization, where attempts to suppress speech are met with increased visibility and support, making censorship high-cost and publicly embarrassing.
By making censorship visible and relatable, decentralization aims to incite personal investment in the fight for freedom of expression.
The ultimate challenge for decentralization lies in reshaping psychology and culture to prioritize personal freedom and the right to speak and be heard.