Columbia News

Senator Eric Schmitt, a U.S. Senator from Missouri, expressed concerns on September 23, 2025, regarding the treatment of conservatives in online spaces and the broader implications for public discourse.

In a post published that day, Schmitt stated: "Conservatives were structurally, systematically disadvantaged in the digital public square. They were censored. Demonetized. Shadowbanned. Downgraded in the algorithms. Many were completely booted off the internet altogether.

Why did the Left do this? Well, because it works." (September 23, 2025)

He further commented on how news is disseminated and who shapes conversations: "A lot of people might not get their news from the internet. But the people THEY get their news from—journalists, pundits, talk-show hosts—do. It's where the conversation starts.

Throughout the 2010s, much of the Right didn't even have full access to the conversation at all." (September 23, 2025)

In another post on the same date, Schmitt referenced arguments made by others regarding deplatforming: "That's a refrain you heard from all the elite left-wing censorship cheerleaders, over and over again: 'Deplatforming works.'

They were right. Turns out, when you make it impossible for your opponents to speak, argue, or challenge your narrative—it's actually pretty effective!" (September 23, 2025)

The debate around content moderation and political bias on social media platforms has been ongoing for years. Critics have argued that certain users or viewpoints are unfairly targeted by platform policies such as demonetization or shadowbanning—a practice where user content is made less visible without explicit notification to those affected. Supporters of stricter moderation claim these measures are necessary to curb misinformation and harmful content online.

Senator Schmitt's comments reflect continued concern among some policymakers about potential impacts on political discourse and representation within digital spaces.