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A long-term reader of Vox Political recently got in touch with an odd observation: she hadn’t seen any of my work in months — not on social media anywhere.

It was as though I’d disappeared.

That changed, curiously, when she went on holiday to Spain.

Suddenly, my content was everywhere again.

Then she returned to the UK — and I vanished once more.

I’ve been publishing new material every single day.

There was no break in output, no change in theme or subject matter.

And yet somehow, visibility was restored not through any action of mine, but seemingly because she crossed a border.

It leads me to an obvious question: are the social media platforms blocking or suppressing content by region?

If so, are they deliberately throttling the visibility of Vox Political — and potentially other UK-based publishers — within the United Kingdom itself?

And perhaps more worryingly: if I’m being algorithmically silenced in my own country, who do I turn to for help?

This has been a long decline

Vox Political isn’t new.

It has been running for more than a decade and once reached nearly six million hits a year — with revenue from advertising and donations that allowed me to make a living as an independent journalist.

That all changed. Readership started to drop off in 2020, although the decline becomes visible – and rapid – from 2021 onwards.

Now I struggle to attract even 1,000 hits a day.

That’s not from a drop in reader interest — I hear regularly from followers who say they no longer see my posts, unless they actively search for them. Many assume I’ve stopped publishing altogether until they see a post that the social media platforms haven’t blocked – most likely because it doesn’t link to any of my articles.

This isn’t random.

It’s the result of algorithmic manipulation by platforms like Facebook, which once delivered my posts directly to the timelines of readers who chose to follow me.

That system has been quietly eroded and replaced by one that effectively holds visibility hostage.

Facebook now routinely offers to “boost” my posts — for a fee.

Recently, it asked for £42 to show one post to 1,000 people – not new people, I hasten to add.

Not a targeted demographic.

Just my own existing audience, who already asked to see my content.

That isn’t advertising. It’s ransom.

I took it to the watchdog

What did I do? I did exactly what one is supposed to.

I collected all the information I could and, a few weeks ago, I submitted a formal complaint to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) — the UK regulator responsible for investigating unfair practices and abuses of market power.

In my letter, I laid out how algorithmic suppression by major platforms like Meta (Facebook) is harming my business, and possibly violating the principles of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024.

I described:

• The sharp decline in reach and revenue

• The pressure to pay for visibility I once had for free

• The total lack of transparency from the platforms

• The wider impact on other small publishers and businesses

I asked the CMA to investigate.

I offered to provide more evidence.

I even asked to meet with someone — because this isn’t theoretical.

It’s my livelihood, and it’s slowly being taken away by an unaccountable algorithm that I can’t challenge.

And the watchdog shrugged

Here’s what I received in return:

“We value people contacting us with information… We are unable to give you an update on your enquiry… We offer no guarantee as to where or how your enquiry may be used.”

In other words: thank you for doing our homework, we won’t tell you what we do with it, and we certainly won’t credit you.

The CMA’s refusal to even discuss the issue with me — someone directly affected — suggests an uncomfortable truth: they may not be interested in protecting small businesses from tech giants, even under legislation designed to do exactly that.

This is bigger than just me

What’s happening to Vox Political is likely happening to others:

Independent publishers.

Advocacy groups.

Small businesses trying to operate online without being swallowed by Big Tech’s paywall.

If platforms are prioritising paid content — or suppressing certain voices without recourse or explanation — that’s not just harmful to individual livelihoods.

It’s a threat to free expression and to fair competition in the UK economy.

And if regulators are too timid or under-resourced to act, then we all lose.

Help me keep publishing

Vox Political survives because readers support it — not algorithms.

To help keep this publication alive, I’m offering a free book to anyone who donates.

It’s my way of saying thank you for standing with me as platforms try to silence independent voices.

You can also bypass algorithmic suppression completely by joining my mailing lists — the only reliable way to make sure you actually receive what I publish.

If you’re seeing this article, you’re one of the lucky ones. Most people who want to see my content… can’t.

The CMA may not act.

Facebook certainly won’t unless it is forced.

So I’ll be contacting my MP.

I urge you to do the same — especially if you’ve experienced similar treatment online, or run a business affected by these invisible gatekeepers.

We cannot let the platforms pick winners and losers in the dark.

If you believe in fair play — and in the right to be heard — help me fight back.

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