Elton John has been contributing to the social media censorship debate, urging social media companies to further crackdown on hate-speech. If they don’t wise up, the legendary singer is calling for a boycott.
Sir Elton John sat down for an interview BBC’s Newsnight to discuss social media censorship and the existence of hate speech. John, one the world’s most prominent gay men, found Twitter and other platforms most at fault for not doing enough to combat online homophobia.
Newsnight’s Kirsty Wark addressed John: “But of course, you do know that there’s some horrific homophobic material on social media,” to which he replied, “Of course. I don’t know why they allow it.”
“You know, it’s supposed to be free speech, but the things that are on social media are so disgusting that there has to be action taken by the people who own these companies.”
John also had a terse message for those who argue that further social media oversight might compromise free speech. “And you know, people say, ‘Well, what about my freedom of speech?’ Sod your freedom of speech!” he exclaimed.
Wark then asked the pop icon what he saw as the best way to convince social media companies to stop allowing “homophobia” on their platforms. He replied by urging a boycott. “Stop using them,” he stated. “Boycott them.”
“They can do so much good but, first of all they have to clean house and become much more moral and Christian-thinking in a way, or whatever.” He clarified, “A much more moral, thinking compass for what’s going on in the world.”
But as of right now, John said that he hasn’t seen much good in the world coming from social media. He claimed, “Elections are being rigged, people are being bullied online, they’re committing suicide, young people are committing suicide because of what’s going online.”
“They haven’t made any action, they haven’t done anything to try and stem the flow of hate on the internet.”
