So....what would happen if Twitter just decided to suspend Donald Trump's account?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

In the greater interest of trying to force the presumptive 45th President to actually focus on things other than picking grudges against Hamilton, SNL and leaders of union chapters, or re-tweeting a 16 year old's illogical musings on vote rigging?

I know, I know. People will scream about First Amendment rights or censorship and the like.

But Twitter is a private company. It's not the government. There's no First Amendment issue at hand. Realistically, it has the right to decide who can and cannot use its service. And if it's service is being abused by a single user to the greater detriment of an entire nation, is there anything that would stop them from just pulling the plug?

Not necessarily endorsing this, but I'm just spitballing it as food for thought.

[Arkansas Granny]

1. I'm sure DT's first reaction would be to file suit.

[Kingofalldems]

2. Immediate death threats for starters.

[DetlefK]

6. Well, that goes without saying.

[Ilsa]

3. Some trump-lover would write a new app and

Make billions on it. It would be devised to be for hardcore RW propaganda only.

[Afromania]

10. hmmmm

This sounds like workable shenanigans... tell me more

[Ilsa]

12. What are you planning to do? nt

[Afromania]

16. yea, I was trying to be funny.

Still, I was thinking what would happen if somebody made such a thing as a way to infiltrate the political opposition. By gathering private information, spreading directed propaganda, etc; a honeypot of sorts. It sounds far fetched but after all of the happenings of this years elections. I have the feeling that if something like it doesn't already exist, it soon will.

[Ilsa]

17. Probably a good idea if you can keep from getting found out

and sued regarding the information collected.

[.99center]

27. Like Facebook?

I can't tell if you're still being sarcastic but you're describing dark post and Facebook.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-27/inside-the-trump-bunker-with-12-days-to-go

On Oct. 24, Trump’s team began placing spots on select African American radio stations. In San Antonio, a young staffer showed off a South Park-style animation he’d created of Clinton delivering the “super predator” line (using audio from her original 1996 sound bite), as cartoon text popped up around her “Hillary Thinks African Americans are Super Predators.” The animation will be delivered to certain African American voters through Facebook “dark posts”—nonpublic posts whose viewership the campaign controls so that, as Parscale puts it, “only the people we want to see it, see it.” The aim is to depress Clinton’s vote total. “We know because we’ve modeled this,” says the official. “It will dramatically affect her ability to turn these people out.”

[Afromania]

31. nope

no sarcasm. While it wasn't built explicitly for that purpose Facebook fits the bill almost perfectly.

[madinmaryland]

18. That sounds like free republic. Hmmm. Wonder

what trumps sn is over there.

[Initech]

21. Billions? Ha!!!!

Remember when conservatives tried their own social media app? It tanked. Their own dating service? It tanked. They'll start it and no one will join.

[Ilsa]

24. You're probably right.

And most of them are neanderthals or can't work a tablet for lack of opposable thumbs.

[Initech]

25. They're like Bender from Futurama.

But when it comes to it....

[DetlefK]

4. I very faintly remember a similar legal question.

It was about whether it's censorship if a TV-channel cancels your TV-show because they simply don't like what you are saying.

I mean, you have the right to say what you want. You do not have the right to force me to hear what you say.

[Renew Deal]

5. It would be a bad move

Last edited Thu Dec 8, 2016, 11:16 AM - Edit history (1)

It would be an outrageous example of corporations interfering with our politics/government.

I know that happens all the time but this would be blatant.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

9. Probably right.

Like I said, I wasn't necessarily endorsing the notion, just pointing out that it could be done.

The blowback from Trump would probably be far too ugly anyways. He'd have to find different ways to express his rage.

[ck4829]

7. If Trump violates the TOS, then it's their right to do so

Watch his surrogates and subordinates as well, Michael Flynn uses Twitter as well. I'm surprised he hasn't gotten the boot.

[Trust Buster]

8. You expect Twitter to eliminate the best free advertising that they have ever had ? Get real.

[treestar]

11. Maybe he'd do a Facebook account

there is probably some other platform. And he'd get coverage of whatever he put out there and his abysmal followers would all sign up. Heck he will have the WH page after 1/20.

[mainer]

13. When Obama leaves, Trump gets the @POTUS handle, I believe.

I think it goes with the office.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

15. Obama has tweeted so infrequently on the @POTUS handle

I sort of forgot that he even had one.

[iscooterliberally]

28. Or he could just use @VonClownstick I suppose?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

14. Then he's probably just going to start using Facebook or some other Social Media platform.

Goddess save us all...........

[ksoze]

19. Much worse has been said on Twitter than Trumps Teenager Tweets

As long as there is a market for his opinions and rants, there will be an outlet. Welcome to the USA.

[melm00se]

22. Trump would have to clearly

violate the terms of service but not using the DU definition of violation but one that would stand up in a court.

[NYC Liberal]

23. There's no legal issue.

Twitter can ban anyone at any time. No "violation" of anything needed.

[MFM008]

26. and they should do it

they do it for other TOS violations all the time, just as Facebook blocks nude pictures ever of breast cancer survivors..........

[pghero]

29. Twitter would probably go out of business.

Probably wouldn't end well for Twitter.

Their stock will probably crash and the will go out of business. It already is tanking.

After all, there's a new twitter copy called Gab.AI that's gaining lots of traction.

[C_U_L8R]

30. Trump's probably the best thing to happen to them

but if the Twitter folks had an ounce of integrity,
they'd bounce the lying orange worm off their platform.

[Eleanors38]

32. People want to know what succeeds MSM. tRump is giving a lesson...

As crappy as his message is, he is providing a gaze into the new abyss. Suspending an account is like trying to ban transistors.

[Thinkingabout]

33. I love to see him on twitter, proves we have the ability to piss

Him off and then he shows how big of am a$$ he is. Keep on pouncing on him.

[spin]

34. Some Trump supporters might suspend their accounts? ...

That's my guess.

[KamaAina]

35. The National Guard would storm 6th and Market with tanks.

[Rex]

36. Doesn't the fact that he is up at 3AM tweeting, threaten national security?

That cannot be good for the country or his inability to think due to lack of sleep.

[Runningdawg]

37. Make good on his promise

to shut down the internet.