Free Speech in the Digital Age
The digital age has birthed social media which has now become an integral part of global culture. It has influenced mass communication and the spread of information. Social media can be used as a tool to share information, opinions, and make connections. Expression of issues such as race, gender, and politics are common-place and there are digital communities for nearly every stance.Â
Social movements have been taken online with hashtags and virtual communities that pertain specifically to those with similar life experiences and opinions such as the #MeToo Movement, #MAGA, and the development of Black Twitter. These movements prompt a response from both those who agree and those who disagree â sparking online debate and conversation. In the United States some are questioning what action can be taken when these debates get out of hand in the digital world; what kinds of statements are merely personally offensive and what statements are categorized as hate speech? What is the standard procedure when harassment turns into threats of life or property? And if the harmed individuals do speak out against their offenders, who is equipped to help them and what action can be reasonably taken against such offenses? These are some of the questions that can be raised and considered when addressing the topic of online policing.












