Journalist Michael Shellenberger has expressed concerns regarding censorship on Meta's new platform, Threads. Shellenberger found the platform, launched as a rival to Twitter, to be lacking in innovation and described it as "boring." However, his primary concern stems from the censorship he observed shortly after joining. He cited the throttling of accounts like conservative activist Rogan O'Handley as an example.

Shellenberger criticized Meta's use of "secret blacklists," a practice he claims was carried over from Facebook. He argues that this censorship, purportedly implemented to "protect democracy," is "Orwellian" and hypocritical, allowing falsehoods from the left while cracking down on alleged "misinformation" from conservatives. He specifically referenced a New York Times report that he believes misrepresented the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.

Shellenberger believes many Americans support free speech, even for those they disagree with. He contrasted this with a "narcissistic and antisocial" minority who, he claims, want corporations to censor their opponents. He expressed dismay at having to defend the First Amendment against this group.

He suggested that some liberals' desire to leave Twitter after Musk's takeover stems from a perceived lack of censorship on the platform. He argued that these individuals prefer platforms that silence views they disagree with. Shellenberger characterized this as a "crisis of narcissism."

Zuckerberg's description of Threads as an "open and friendly public space for conversation" was dismissed by Shellenberger as "fascism with a friendly face." He criticized the notion that censorship is necessary to protect vulnerable communities, comparing it to Orwell's "1984." He called on Zuckerberg to be ashamed of what he perceives as "secret censorship of disfavored views."

Shellenberger believes the solution to this censorship lies in Congress revoking Section 230 protections for Big Tech unless they guarantee free speech for all political viewpoints. He emphasized that Zuckerberg's power is derived from Congress' inaction.

While acknowledging that Twitter under Musk hasn't fully embraced free speech principles, citing incidents of censorship, Shellenberger highlighted Musk's increased transparency regarding censorship orders. He contrasted this with the secrecy surrounding censorship on Threads. He advocated for complete transparency in all content moderation decisions.

Shellenberger predicts that Threads will remain a significant player in the increasingly fragmented social media landscape. He believes Twitter's relative freedom and transparency will continue to attract users. He stressed the importance of holding both Zuckerberg and Musk accountable for upholding free speech principles.