Liking Posts

Vanessa W. - LLI Columbus

By "liking" an Instagram post I do think it’s kind of like speech, because you’re saying, “Oh I like that, or that’s cool.” But I don’t think it’s okay that people/students get punished for posting something off campus, or "liking" something off campus.

I also think it’s not a school's right to check the students' phones. But I only think it’s appropriate to do that when there is a really bad threat to the school. I also agree with the students that, “the district has no right to discipline them because the offensive posts were on a private account that had no connection with any official school activity or school account.” (Students Suspended for “Liking” Racist Instagram Post Sue School.)

School districts are taking it way too far to me because most things students post about the school are just jokes! Or stuff they don’t mean- it’s just entertainment for their friends. Like for example a student tweeted, “The concert choir with all their makeup is the only clowns we got around here,” (Canon City High School to Discipline Students for “Liking” Tweet) and was disciplined.

“If you can’t handle social media and the jokes or comments people are making on it, log out of your account or just don’t make one. ”

Also, you could block all the people that are mean to you. You don’t need social media to look cool. The best thing is to stay to yourself and you won’t be in any drama or feel mistreated by one little joke about you. You could also be like a ghost.

“The act of clicking the “like button” is sufficiently imbued with elements of communication” because the user intends to convey a message and there is a great likelihood that the message will be understood by its viewers. ("What is the meaning of 'like?'- The First Amendment Implications of Social-Media Expressions").

I don’t agree with this because it’s not fair to the students, and it’s also not the school's business to know what goes on-on social media - especially if it’s off campus. Also, as I stated, it should only be the school's business if it is something serious directed to the school, directed to a student or directed to all the students. And that concludes my “Blog Post” about "liking" posts.

Sources Considered

  • Robbins, Ira P. "What is the Meaning of 'Like'?: The First Amendment Implications of Social-Media Expression." American University Washington College of Law Research Paper, vol. 7, issue 1, no. 2013-14, 2013, pp. 144-147.
  • Kelly, Heather. "U.S. Court Saying 'Liking' Something on Facebook is Free Speech." CNN. 19 Sept. 2013. 
  • "Students Suspended for 'Liking' Racist Instagram Posts Sue School." CBS Sacramento. CBS Interactive. 5 May 2017. 
  • Brown, Ken. "Middle School Student Suspended for 'Liking' Photo of Gun on Instagram." Fox 19 Now. WXIX. 5 May 2017. 
  • Knuth, Sara. "Cañon City High School to Discipline Students for 'Liking' Tweet." Education. The Daily Record. 13 Oct. 2016.
  • Walton, Xavier. "Over 20 NC Students Suspended for Liking Instagram Post." MFMYNEWS2.com. WCNC. 21 March 2017. 
  • Dinzeo, Maria. "Judge Wrestles with School's Handling of Racial Cyberbullying." Courthouse News Service. 27 July 2017. 
LLI ColumbusLLI CentralStudent Expression as "Liking"