Does freedom of speech exist anymore or do you find yourself saying one thing while thinking the opposite out of fear of social repercussions and persecution.
No. Only "dumb " freedom of speech is allowed, anything particularly important, factually or logic based is widely suppressed. By the gestapo.
Indeed. Mass media tell us what to think. They frame the debate and define which issues are important and which aren't. Like sheep, we dare not stray from the mental maps they've fashioned for us - fearing widespread backlash by our societal 'collective'; who incidentally, are also sheep and believe exactly as they're told.
There has never been freedom of speech in this sense of the word. Social and cultural pressure are either a strong tyrant or ally...
The framing of 'important' issues is conceptually identical to how fashion trends are set - top down. The central authority tells us what to think/like. And we obey it while simultaneously priding ourselves on how 'informed' and 'independent minded' we are. LOL. Its mass mind control.