Freedom of Speech and Social Media

“Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.” ~John Milton, Areopagitica

Freedom of Speech

Every person was created differently. Every person has a different set of beliefs. Every has their own mind and opinion on life and social issues. The Founding Father's of The United States of America understood this. They understood that a person's freedom to voice their opinion was important within reason. This is why it is also the First Amendment of our Constitution: 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

On the United States Court website they state the rights that this includes. Through the years, "the U.S. Supreme Court often has struggled to determine what exactly constitutes protected speech." Listed on their website is what they believe this constitutes of. They have a list of what they believe this includes and what they believe it does not include. When you look at the list they have created of what constitutes of what this freedom is not saying, in my opinion, really it is using common curtsy and respect to your fellow human being. Below is the list:

Freedom of speech does not include the right:

• To incite actions that would harm others (e.g. “[S]hout[ing] ‘fire’ in a crowded theater.”).
  Schenck v. United States, 249 U.S. 47 (1919).
• To make or distribute obscene materials.
  Roth v. United States, 354 U.S. 476 (1957).
• To burn draft cards as an anti-war protest.
  United States v. O’Brien, 391 U.S. 367 (1968).
• To permit students to print articles in a school newspaper over the objections of the school administration. 
  Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988).
• Of students to make an obscene speech at a school-sponsored event.
  Bethel School District #43 v. Fraser, 478 U.S. 675 (1986).
• Of students to advocate illegal drug use at a school-sponsored event.
  Morse v. Frederick, __ U.S. __ (2007).

Fun Note: On their website they have a link that you can click on that tests your knowledge about the Amendments. Check it out and see if you can pass the test ;) Click here to go there directly. 

 How Does this Relate to Social Media? 

 I believe this is directly related to social media. Especially, about what your freedom does not include.

 I want to use Pinterest.com as an example of a new type of social media website. Pinterest is a social media site where "Pinners" collaborate and use as a tool for collecting and organizing the things they love. This includes: Planning a trip or project, organizing an event, and/or starting a collection. 

On their website, they spell out their terms and policies. They confirm what the United States Court website says: To not make or distribute obscene materials. Pinterest simply and boldly says, "don't post porn or spam or be a jerk to other Pinners." They encourage pinners to report issues such as these. There is a sense even when using social media of right and wrong. I would submit people who use their "freedom" to post obscene material or put someone down is abusing their freedom of speech that as an American citizen they have been given. People can more easily abuse this freedom because they are hiding behind a computer screen and are not accountable.