We hear it all the time: we live in the age of disinformation. Social media users all contain biases and omit/distort truths that make it difficult to know who and what to trust. Our commitment to the right of free expression exacerbates this problem by hindering potential attempts at regulation. However, free speech boasts an interesting duality as both a solute and a solvent. If free speech can be used to spread disinformation, then it can be used to spread truth as well: counteracting disinformation by using your platform to clarify and promote the whole truth is an ability in all of our wheelhouses.
As a conservative Gen Zer, it is easy to find people who misunderstand the values and ideas that I and most conservatives support. A fundamental catalyst of political polarization is misunderstanding, but misunderstanding is not the same as disagreement. When people say that we need more speech to counter bad speech, it is often in reference to respectful disagreement. Respectful disagreement cannot exist if debates are hung up on merely attempting to understand how the other side is not evil. Rather, what is needed is a complete understanding of the other side’s normative commitments and intellectual and moral priors to achieve an enriched perspective. In 2025, social media has become the most ubiquitous mode of political communication, but this medium frequently inhibits the civil discussion necessary to heal our polarization. Conservatives are not blameless in this regard: too often, conservatives use social media in a disrespectful, provocative, or derogatory manner. How can young conservatives leverage social media to promote the fundamental beliefs that drive our political ideas? I propose these three strategies: avoiding personal attacks, leveraging personal experience, and asking questions.
First, don’t spread polemical rhetoric about individuals instead of ideas. Spreading rhetoric that personally attacks or ridicules individuals instead of ideas spreads polarization and leads many to fight fire with fire. If we use our platforms to ridicule individuals, then it feeds into the falsehood that conservatives are by nature hateful. Instead, argue the idea. This could be through official online publication (such as the Princeton Tory), or through personal social media accounts, that is, if you prefer to politicize those. Additionally, arguing the idea should not begin by immediately attacking the opposing view – beginning with your stance and values, or even just the notion of “I disagree” is more productive than “here’s why you are wrong.”
Secondly, sharing personal experience is a powerful gateway for others to understand how you have formed your values and ideas. If your social media platforms are geared towards personal vulnerability and/or personal storytelling in general, then take advantage of this space to share your experiences with others positively. Listening to others’ personal experiences is also paramount: many podcasters, whether they are political ones or not, will delve into their personal experiences at times to explain how they’ve formed their views. Furthermore, listening to media of the opposing side circumvents echo chambers.
Finally, posing questions instead of constantly imposing personal views is a great way to gauge their understanding of your view so that you can respond and clarify if needed, further understand their points, and set an example for others to do the same. Differing political opinions often distill into shared American values. Social media posts probably aren’t the best way to publicize these, but rather, engaging in online forums, or even scribing and publishing a small debate, generates attention. There are also many clips online of people who pose questions – a lot of Charlie Kirk’s full debates, and even current examples such as Cam Higby’s Instagram clips (even if they don’t represent what your conservative ideas are) – are positive examples to follow.
There is no one right way to promote free speech and conservative values, and the three points described are only launching points to stimulate thinking. Charlie Kirk’s assassination still reverberates throughout the psyche of the conservative movement, and this assassination stipulates the discussion of what constitutes civil discourse and how we can improve. If social media users can leverage their platforms to spread free speech and their values, misunderstanding will decline in political circles. It will never be perfect, but we each can make an effort, which is all anyone can ever do.
Image Credit — Wikimedia Commons
Copyright © 2026 The Princeton Tory. All rights reserved.