Censorship has always existed to some degree in society, even when that society seems mostly free. There's always something taboo in every culture that either isn't talked about or isn't shared. In most cases, information is censored to respect victims of a crime or to prevent others from copying the crime.

Although censorship for the sake of privacy and crime prevention sometimes makes sense, certain big tech companies are taking their power to censor a little too far.

On major social media platforms like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook, many people who post regular content regarding political issues are being censored, blocked, shadow banned, downranked, and even suspended or terminated. 

In fact, credit card companies and online payment processors are starting to terminate accounts belonging to political dissidents.

This mass censorship is happening to a lot of people both inside and outside of the United States. It really doesn't matter what the specific issue is - just about everyone's getting censored.

Big tech censorship is everyone's problem

Social media giants say they are only trying to combat "extremism," but what they consider extreme is sometimes nothing more than a dissenting view. However, these companies seem to be buckling under the pressure to cater to certain ideals. Perhaps it's pressure from advertisers who might take their money elsewhere - it's hard to say.

It doesn't matter which way you lean politically - big tech censorship affects everyone. Many people think it's only conservatives who are being silenced, but it's everyone. Political speech is being silenced across the world, regardless of the content. And the use of AI-powered algorithms to handle reports and suspensions doesn't help. People are finding their accounts terminated for violations they never committed.

Private publications are making a comeback

In the midst of censorship and the surrounding drama, many people are picking up the lost art of creating their own personal publications in order to make their voices heard.

These homemade publications, often referred to as 'zines, have a long and fascinating history. The idea has always been that your opinions and expressions can't be silenced when you're the publisher.

While many zines began as anti-authoritarian, there are plenty of zines that exist to promote specific ideas and support grassroots movements. If you're looking for information and you're not having any luck online, try looking for zines related to your chosen subject.

If you've got something to say that you can't publish on social media, here are some tips for making your own local publication.

1. Turn your publication into a PDF file

All printing should be done from PDF files. No matter what file format you use to create your publication, make sure you turn it into a PDF before printing to preserve your exact formatting. Otherwise, the formatting will most likely be disrupted, especially when you mail the file to someone else for printing.

When you turn a Word document into a PDF file, for example, you lock in the formatting as a permanent part of the file so it will print exactly the same way from any machine.

2. Print your copies online

Once you have a printable PDF file, print your copies online. While you can take your file to a local print shop or mail center, you'll get better results online. You'll also get a better price since online print shops don't have the overhead required to maintain a physical location.

There are several different types of stitching you can get, but you'll probably find saddle stitch printing to be the easiest. Saddle stitching is clean and looks fantastic.

3. Find a distributor

Once you have copies of your publication, you'll need to figure out how to distribute copies. The classic method is to find a distributor who will collect copies and mail them out for you. However, if your subject matter isn't common, you'll have to do your own distribution.

The best way to become your own distributor is to create a website for your project. It doesn't need to be fancy and you can use a free editor, like Wix. Just make a simple website to promote your publication with an "about" and "contact" page. 

This way, you can send the link to people on social media who are interested in your content.

Don't let big tech censorship stop you from sharing

If you're being censored on social media sites, don't let big tech censor you. Start creating a physical publication that you can share with people in your circle. You'll get your message out to the masses, and bypass the potential for being silenced.