Kashmir Social Media Ban

           

                 Within the United States, "freedom", whether that be pertaining to speech or other forms of expression, is generally conceived as an integral ideal of the foundation of our society.  Subsequently, I believe we often take for granted many of these freedoms in which other individuals, particularly from other countries or regions, are less fortunate in attaining.  For example, this week I chose to examine an article in which focused upon the Indian state of Kashmir; this article went on to explain that "authorities" within the state placed a social media ban upon it's residents for approximately one-month's duration.  According to the author, the ban has been placed on over 20 social media services including Twitter and Facebook.  While to us this may seem as an encroachment upon basic freedoms, residents of Kashmir and other surrounding regions are actually used to such bans coming from their governments; most often these governments ban the use of social media outlets in order to exert control over residents ideologies and formation of protests against their authority. I found the article extremely interesting, especially coming from a nation in which so heavily prides itself upon the ideology of freedom;  I wonder if such a ban were to happen within the United States, how long before there would be a national uproar and the ban overturned?  Interesting to think about yet, sad, to comprehend the true lack of freedom that some others face on a consistent basis.


-Jaedyn Krebs-Carr

Website: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-39741886