YouTube’s attempt to silence presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has dramatically backfired. Following the removal of his interview with Jordan Peterson due to alleged vaccine misinformation, Kennedy posted a clip on Twitter that quickly garnered an impressive 4.5 million views within a few days. Since announcing his candidacy, Kennedy has faced consistent censorship due to his controversial stance on vaccines and the pharmaceutical industry.
ABC also censored portions of an interview with Kennedy, claiming “false claims about the Covid-19 vaccines” and “misleading claims” about vaccines and autism. The exact claims that were removed remain unknown, which only piques people’s curiosity further. Instagram similarly suspended Kennedy in 2021 for his statements about the Covid-19 vaccine, but reinstated his account upon his campaign announcement.
Moreover, vaccine researcher and political commentator Dr. Peter Hotez has refused to debate RFK Jr. on the Joe Rogan Experience, despite being offered a $100,000 donation to the charity of his choice. The censorship of Kennedy’s podcast conversation with Peterson on YouTube has inadvertently sparked the Streisand effect, as the clip has gained millions of views.
Although many of Kennedy’s claims are refuted by scientific literature and experts, instead of engaging in meaningful discussion, he is often dismissed as an “anti-vaxxer” and silenced. However, these attempts to shut him down seem to have only increased his popularity. Kennedy currently enjoys higher favorability ratings than both Trump and Biden and is polling at nearly 20% in the Democratic primary.
The headlines about Kennedy’s censorship continue to draw attention to his controversial claims, exemplifying the Streisand effect. This phenomenon, named after Barbara Streisand’s lawsuit that resulted in drawing more attention to an image rather than suppressing it, has been observed in various instances, including Trump being banned from Twitter, which led him to create an echo chamber on Truth Social.
Censorship often has unintended consequences, with forbidden content becoming even more alluring to curious individuals. For example, the book “Gender Queer” faced calls for removal from libraries by Republican politicians, resulting in a 130% increase in print sales. The desire to shield controversial figures or ideas creates distrust, ultimately bolstering RFK Jr.’s campaign. Censoring a political candidate contradicts democratic ideals, as voters should have the opportunity to access the complete platform of presidential hopefuls.
In an era when institutional trust has reached an all-time low, due to dismissing dissenting voices as conspiracy theorists or silencing them on social media, censorship only exacerbates the problem. People want the chance to make their own informed decisions, rather than being fed a censored narrative. Kennedy aptly compares social media to the town square, where democratic functioning requires access for all candidates. When mainstream media and social platforms prioritize censorship instead of fostering open dialogue, it’s no surprise that individuals seek out the censored voices.
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