Adam Maillho
September 21, 2015
HUM/186
Professor Allyson Wells
Social Media With the increase use of social media, millions of people are connected through sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. These sites connect individuals in a personal and professional capacity. But questions are being raised as to the content which people are posting on their social media sites. Celebrities are often being criticized for their content on social media. But even more concerning is the information being posted by business professionals and public servants. With information being so easily available, and often permanent, there are certainly advantages and disadvantages. Little information on social media is …show more content…
Information can be taken out of context and there are some very public cases where people’s posts are used against them. There seems to be an ongoing argument between the protection of the First Amendment and the consequences of free speech as it pertains to social media. Especially with public servants, their content is often scrutinized. Anything that can potentially be taken out of context, often is, and can be used against them. In a recent court case, Graziosi v. City of Greenville, Mississippi, the Fifth Circuit upheld a ruling by the lower court which denied a claim of an unlawful termination based on a social media post. Initially siding with Graziosi, in the fact that her post began as a rant about her displeasure with a decision handed down by the Police Chief, it quickly escalated to a public bashing of the Chief’s leadership ability, or lack thereof. This can certainly be a precedent for future claims of a similar nature. It is well known that when it comes to social media, anything you say (or type) can be used against you. Sounds a little too close to the rights we afford those suspected of committing a …show more content…
Networking, both personal and professional, can be used to further a career or rekindle past friendships. If used correctly, social media can keep an individual posted on new opportunities or simply boast their own professional careers. As it continues to evolve, social media is beginning to play an important role in millions of individuals. One cannot watch television, listen to the radio, or use any other form of traditional media without being referred to a “hashtag” or social networking site. Nearly everyone from businessmen to political leaders use social media on a daily basis to stay in communication with those who would benefit from