Social Media and the Law: A Guidebook for Communication Students and Professionals

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat allow users to connect with one another and share information with the click of a mouse or a tap on a touchscreen-and have become vital tools for professionals in the news and strategic communication fields. But as rapidly as these services have grown in popularity, their legal ramifications aren't widely understood. To what extent do communicators put themselves at risk for defamation and privacy lawsuits when they use these tools, and what rights do communicators have when other users talk about them on social networks? How can an entity maintain control of intellectual property issues-such as posting copyrighted videos and photographs-consistent with the developing law in this area? How and when can journalists and publicists use these tools to do their jobs without endangering their employers or clients?

Including two new chapters that examine First Amendment issues and ownership of social media accounts and content, Social Media and the Law brings together thirteen media law scholars to address these questions and more, including current issues like copyright, online impersonation, anonymity, cyberbullying, sexting, and live streaming. Students and professional communicators alike need to be aware of laws relating to defamation, privacy, intellectual property, and government regulation-and this guidebook is here to help them navigate the tricky legal terrain of social media.

Preface, by Daxton R. "Chip" Stewart

Chapter 1: The Boundaries of Free Speech in Social Media, by Jennifer Jacobs Henderson

Chapter 2: Defamation, by Derigan Silver

Chapter 3: Privacy and Terms of Use, by Woodrow Hartzog

Chapter 4: Intellectual Property, by Kathleen K. Olson

Chapter 5: Commercial Speech and Federal Regulations, by Courtney Barclay

Chapter 6: Account Ownership and Control, by Jasmine McNealy

Chapter 7: Government Information and Leaks, by David Cuillier

Chapter 8: Student Speech, by Dan Kozlowski

Chapter 9: Obscenity, Sexting and Cyberbullying, by Amy Kristin Sanders

Chapter 10: Social Media Use in Courtrooms, by Cathy Packer

Chapter 11: Social Media Policies for Journalists, by Daxton R. Stewart

Chapter 12: Social Media Policies for Advertising and Public Relations, by Holly Kathleen Hall

Chapter 13: The Future of Discourse in Online Spaces, by Jared Schroeder