Media Girl: Facebook vs. The First Amendment
Posted by: klowe1 on: March 30, 2010
Social networking websites have caused many changes throughout society within the past few years. Between websites such as “Myspace,” “Twitter,” “Facebook,” and “Youtube” young people have used these sites as tools to express their opinions on just about any topic. 
This article discusses the case of a Miami, Florida teen named Katherine Evans who is able to “proceed in her lawsuit” against her former high school principal. He suspended Evans for creating a negative Facebook page about her former English teacher.
This article “Student Suspended for Facebook Page Can Sue,” raises many questions about how teens and young adults use social networking sites to communicate. Is it okay to let students post web pages criticizing their teachers? Is it freedom of speech, or just “cyberbullying?”
Evans was originally suspended for three days after she had made a Facebook page claiming that teacher Sarah Phelps, “is the worst teacher I’ve ever had.” Evans, now 19 and a sophomore at the University of Florida states that “it was a violation of her First Amendment rights.” Many people on her Facebook page had written comments that agreed with her, while others did defend Ms. Phelps as well.
In my personal opinion I believe that with the use of social networking websites individuals have every right to post whatever they want on their page. Legally we are protected by the First Amendment for freedom of speech. Young people within “Generation Y” and the “Millennials” use these networks as a way to connect with friends, share opinions, and information. Ms. Evans was suspended for three days because she chose to express how she felt on her own time, and not directly to her teachers or within school grounds.
This also brings up the other issue of what exactly people should post on their page. In my belief if you are willing to post something that your parents, teachers, or even potential boss can see then that they might disapprove of then maybe you should also think about the ramifications of what you say. Many other cases similar to this such as this one, \”Cheerleader Sues School, coach after illicit Facebook log-in,\”
Social networking websites can cause a lot of people to “put their foot in their mouths” so to speak, but instead of just a select few hearing it, the whole world can see.
