This week, news broke on a shocking anti-Life bias at one of the largest social media platforms. The bias became apparent in Twitter’s decision to censor Pro-Life ads. Live Action, a Pro-Life organization with an expansive online presence, demonstrated that Twitter is suppressing the group’s Pro-Life messages and refusing to allow Pro-Life ads. Although Live Action is just one organization, their fight for fair treatment on a major social media platform affects all Pro-Life groups. Texas Right to Life has a growing national presence online, and if Twitter succeeds in silencing Pro-Life speech from Live Action, other Pro-Life groups are sure to be next.
The reason for the censorship is allegedly that Live Action violated Twitter’s hate content, sensitive topics, and violence prohibition for advertising. The offending tweets? Images of ultrasounds, messages proclaiming that a preborn child has a Right to Life, and a quote from Dr. Seuss. Tellingly, any message calling for the defunding of Planned Parenthood or stating that Planned Parenthood is first and foremost an abortion business were also flagged. Twitter is not directly censoring the flagged tweets, but the social media giant refuses to sell advertising to the Pro-Life group until Live Action deletes the offending messages. One writer on Live Action said:
According to Twitter representatives, Live Action must first delete all tweets calling for the end of taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood, all tweets of undercover investigations into Planned Parenthood, and any ultrasound images of preborn children. Live Action must also delete, or at least replace, the Live Action website, in order to be considered for advertising on Twitter.
Meanwhile, Twitter has granted Planned Parenthood license to tweet abortion activism and inflammatory political statements, and Planned Parenthood has not been barred from purchasing ads. Twitter’s demand for Live Action to remove every “offensive” mention of Planned Parenthood (i.e. those that call for the defunding of America’s largest abortion business or point out that Planned Parenthood is America’s largest abortion business) is ominous. Coupled with the total lack of suppression of Planned Parenthood ads, Twitter’s actions reveal blatant bias.
Tucker Carlson, host of the Fox News show “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” interviewed Live Action’s president, Lila Rose. Carlson summarized the controversy saying, “It’s hard to believe this. You’re trying to give money to Twitter and they’re turning it down on what sounds like ideological grounds.” When Carlson contacted Twitter for comment, he received a statement claiming that Twitter “has clear, transparent rules that every advertiser is required to follow, and the political viewpoints of an organization do not impact how these rules are applied.” The apparent alliance between Twitter and tax-payer funded abortion giant Planned Parenthood indicates otherwise.
In the wake of the allegations of censorship this week, many Pro-Lifers have demonstrated the threat biased social media poses to the Pro-Life message. The mainstream media is notoriously skewed toward an anti-Life bias, so Pro-Life activists have increasingly sought to reach people directly through social media. If major social media platforms push the agenda of Planned Parenthood abortion business, Pro-Life groups will be prevented from reaching a large audience with their message. We must all demand fair treatment on online platforms and the right to share the Pro-Life message. Show your support for Texas Right to Life on social media today: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.