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First of all, we know that deplatforming racists/fascists does actually help to stop the spread of racist/fascist ideas.

How do we know that? Has a study been done? Are there surveys that track it over time?

Racists beliefs have decreased over the past 50 years. I haven't seen any evidence it's spiked since the advent of the internet.

More visible? Sure. But more visible doesn't mean more people hold those beliefs.

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By induction - repeated exposure to ideas increases their staying power in the mind - see advertising.

If one accepts the premise that fascist ideas spread by exposure, then one way to limit their spread is to limit said exposure.

Sidenote: I'm increasingly frustrated with this increase in veneration of scientific studies, as if studies are the only way or even the best way of attaining or approximating truth. I would like to see more acceptance of lived experience as admissible evidence in matters of debate.

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