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Social Media Changes Practice of Free Speech Rights

Updated: Fri 6:40 PM, Sep 16, 2011

Teachers and students around The Valley celebrated the anniversary of the formation and signing of the Constitution.

In honor of Constitution Day, JMU faculty handed out booklets of the Constitution to students on campus. Inside, they could find the First Amendment with their right to free speech.

"But as far as the First Amendment goes I think it's a good thing, I don't think freedom of speech can ever be a bad thing," said Kate Sederstrom, a JMU student.

Some students say social media can be dangerous, in terms of free speech.

"Everybody says whatever they want to online and it's kind of not really a safe thing to do, everyone sees what you say and you can't really take it back cause once it's online, it's there forever," said Alan Bishop, a JMU student.

On campus, you'll see many students with their cell phones, tweeting or posting on Facebook whenever they want. But JMU Political Science professor Robert Roberts warns the right to free speech is often misunderstood.

"You do not have an unlimited right to say anything you want about anybody and I think there's a perception now with the blogging and Facebook that we misunderstood that somehow you have a license to say anything about everybody, and you don't," said Roberts.

Roberts says the First Amendment protects speech against government limitations.

"If you post something nasty about somebody, personally imputing their character or integrity, theoretically you'd be subject to defamation or slander," said Roberts.

To avoid slander or defamation, one student says you should practice free speech to a certain extent.

"You should have a limitation on what you should be allowed to say," said a JMU student.


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