Why the First Amendment won’t protect PR pros online
You might have a legal right to express your thoughts and feelings through your individual social media profiles, but you’re not protected from the consequences of your actions.
Free speech is a cornerstone of our democracy.
The First Amendment guides many U.S. citizens’ core beliefs, shaping how we think and view ourselves compared to the rest of the world.
However, the First Amendment and social media don’t mix.
Though you can say practically anything online, often without legal consequence, the First Amendment won’t protect you from losing your job, livelihood or reputation.
ESPN recently suspended “SportsCenter” host Jemele Hill for her social media comments about Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the NFL national anthem controversy. ESPN specifically cited violations of the network’s social media policy.
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