Big Tech platforms often tout the idea of freedom. They will claim to protect free speech while suppressing dissenting voices. They discuss eradicating abuse while profiting from anger. They assert they're empowering creators while diminishing your visibility unless you pay to be noticed.
All of this is wrapped in the appealing guise of freedom. But let's be clear: that's not freedom. That's control disguised as terms and conditions.
The irony is that true freedom—the kind George Michael sang about when he said, "this time I know it’s for real"—doesn't come from being the loudest. It comes from being heard. It comes from knowing your voice isn't stifled by an algorithm. It comes from the assurance that your truth won’t be muted for failing to “perform.” It arises from curiosity being a spark rather than a danger. And we have built that.
At WeAre8, we have demonstrated that it's possible to create a social platform free from abuse, trolls, and toxicity—and the outcome isn’t censorship. It's liberation. When individuals feel safe, they express themselves. When they are not afraid of being canceled, they share their truths. When they're not pitted against one another by algorithms that thrive on rage, they genuinely connect.
And that’s what has frightened the older platforms all along. The moment people realize they have control over their voices, not the algorithm, everything changes.
“All we have to do now, is take these lies and make them true somehow.” That lyric resonates differently now. The lies we've been told? That social media must be a battleground. That abuse is unavoidable. That anger drives engagement, and that's just “how it works.” It's simply not true.
We know this because we have accomplished what they claimed was impossible. We have created an environment where individuals bring their authentic selves. Where artists don’t hold back. Where smaller voices are highlighted instead of silenced.
It turns out that when you eliminate fear, people don’t become silent—they become authentic. They become courageous. They become kind. They become curious. Because freedom, genuine freedom, fosters creativity. It nurtures truth. It inspires joy, and it’s infectious.
“I just want to live while I’m alive”—that’s the current energy. We have moved past platforms that take advantage of our outrage. We reject systems that benefit from our silence. We've established something new. Something human. A reality where freedom isn’t just a marketing gimmick. It's a daily existence. So to anyone who has ever hesitated to express their voice to stay “on brand,” to every creator who has muted their truth to satisfy the feed.
To everyone who has seen their words disappear into nothingness. This time, we’re going to unleash everything. Because we’re no longer catering to the algorithm. We’re not working for Zuckerberg anymore. We’re working for ourselves, and we’re working for one another. This time, it’s for real.
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Big Tech companies often claim to champion freedom. They assert that they are safeguarding speech while silencing opposition. They speak about eradicating abuse.