Censorship War: How Political Polarization Threatens Children's Literature

Censorship War: How Political Polarization Threatens Children's Literature

There has recently been a worrying trend in the United States: political polarization is affecting the protection of children from inappropriate content in literature and film. Researchers at Cornell University report that censorship of political content aimed at children has increased sharply. While previously the focus was primarily on preventing violent and sexual content, the priorities of censors have shifted.

What is particularly worrying is that both supporters of the left and the right perceive unpleasant political content as a threat. Michael Macy, a sociologist, compares the situation to a “weapon in the culture war.” The American Library Association documented nearly 1,300 censorship requests in 2022 - the highest number in over two decades. Preliminary data for 2023 suggests that the trend will continue to rise.

Censorship and its consequences

In recent years, censorship in the field of children's literature has changed significantly. Left-wing critics vilify progressive books as racist, sexist or homophobic, while right-wing critics attack literary works that promote diversity or violate heteronormativity. Both sides are surprisingly united in their support for censoring children's books that do not align with their values.

The issue of censorship is further fueled by the rise of social media. These platforms have now become a catalyst for radicalization processes. According to experts, digital communication channels are crucial for spreading extremist content and promoting radicalization, especially among young people. A close connection between online and offline events is often observed, so that a clear separation is hardly possible.

Radicalization in the digital age

The Internet has proven to be a breeding ground for the spread of extremist ideologies. Extremist actors cleverly use digital platforms to spread their messages and gain new followers. Videos, songs and social media content are popular formats for conveying ideological content. The difficulty is that young people often cannot distinguish between entertainment and extremist propaganda.

One could say: The Internet not only simplifies the dissemination of information, but also accelerates radicalization processes by allowing users to consume content without any filter systems. A large number of young users have already had experiences with hate comments. This not only has a negative impact on social cohesion, but also leads to polarization within society.

In addition, large platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and TikTok must moderate their content in order to curb extremist communication. Still, there are differences in moderation, and many smaller, alternative platforms allow extremist content to spread unhindered. These dynamics show how important it is to act actively and responsibly in the digital space in order to protect young people from dangerous ideologies.

The challenges in regulating online hate speech are significant. Regulations such as the Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG) ​​in Germany and EU-wide regulations such as the Digital Services Act (DSA) have been introduced to counteract this. However, many critics fear that such regulations could undermine the right to freedom of expression. The balance between protection and freedom must be found like a fine line.

In a world where digital communications and political extremism are often intertwined, the question remains: How can we best protect children and young people while respecting their freedom of expression? The answers to this are diverse and require a dialogue between society, educational institutions and digital platforms.