Since we first launched our CYBERsitter product 26 years ago, we have been witness to many changes as the internet has matured and become a necessary part of our daily lives. We've been here from the beginning and have been instrumental in the construction of several pieces of legislation including CIPA and COPPA and have provided research papers to senators, representatives, governors, and special commissions.

CYBERsitter was the first commercially available internet filter and was originally designed to block access to adult images and mature topics online. We were frequently accused of censorship as we developed new filter categories that our customers requested. As a pioneer in internet content management, we fought hard to keep our personal values out of the equation. We always did what we thought was right, and as sensibilities changed, we changed along with them.

Originally, the promise of internet was that it would be the great equalizer. Ultimately, it was said, that everyone will have access and everyone will have a voice. Hundreds of ways to communicate were devised and, over time, Facebook and Twitter rose to become de-facto standards. Now, they are deeply intertwined into the internet central nervous system.

One of our blocking categories is Social Networking. Many of our customers routinely block social networking for a variety of reasons. However Facebook and Twitter have become necessary elements for many, including businesses and agencies providing user support, and posting announcements and other timely information others may need to see. We have spent an immense amount of effort to ensure minimal interference when our customers wish to restrict access to Facebook and Twitter content.

This was all done under the assumption that Facebook and Twitter were playing fairly and adhering to the principle that "everyone will have a voice". We originally applauded their efforts to eliminate offensive content such as pornography and depictions of violent acts. However, recent developments have proven that Facebook and Twitter have subscribed to a very different set of principles based on hatred and disdain for the values of half the country. This is the very definition of bigotry. They have now become the self appointed high arbiters of Internet content and can no longer be trusted to provide unbiased and unbigoted content.

From this point forward, we are adding full blocks to all properties owned or controlled by Facebook and Twitter. This includes all content, imagery, advertising, and telemetry. We are aware that this will affect innocent web publishers, but we cannot sit idly by as they install themselves as the ultimate authority over what we are allowed to see or say. We will provide override instructions to our user base on request and they can contact us through our normal support system.

As the original Internet "censors", we understand all too well the immense amount of responsibility that comes with the power to control what users have access to. Facebook and Twitter have committed unprecedented and unprincipled violations of the public trust and are an insult to those of us that helped pave the way for them to exist.

Team CYBERsitter