Why Dissidents Fail

Dissidents are winning elections, but they are losing the culture war. Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter gave hope to the platform’s dissident users that they will finally be able to express themselves freely, without fear of being censored into the virtual abyss. But Mr. Musk recently noted that advertising companies have pulled out of Twitter since his takeover, incurring millions in losses. These developments shed light on an uncomfortable reality: free speech is becoming increasingly elusive. A few powerful figures defying the regime’s consensus are necessary, but not sufficient to change the course our society has taken.