Freedom of speech in the age of social media: the Trump Twitter ban and the rise of political correctness

The debate on freedom of expression in social media has intensified in recent years, highlighting the tensions between to what extent contents should be regulated and the respect of fundamental rights. An emblematic event that reignited the discussion on censorship and today's limits of free speech is Donald Trump's ban from Twitter in January 2021, following the assault on Capitol Hill. This thesis analyses how digital platforms, now central to political discourse, influence democratic participation through moderation mechanisms that, depending on two different perspectives, are interpreted as tools of protection or repression. Through a comparative analysis, the thesis explores the dualism between those who denounce a censorious drift of social media – often associated with woke politics and the phenomenon of “political correctness” – and those who instead consider these practices necessary to guarantee an inclusive and democratic public debate. The Trump case, associated with those who oppose his ideals taking the side of moderation of contents, is thus part of a broader reflection on the regulation of online political communication, examining how censorship can influence public discourse and political polarisation. The aim of the research is to investigate whether the limits to freedom of expression imposed by platforms represent a danger to democracy or, on the contrary, an opportunity to contain disinformation and hate speech. Through a critical analysis of the role of big tech and the relationship between censorship and political participation, the thesis aims to offer an actual insight into the collision between freedom and regulation in the digital age.