Click "Unlike"

Hey there to everyone tuning in for some more shenanigans. This time I’m wondering if you’ve heard about this story that happened over the summer concerning the “like” button on Facebook.

Now, most of us probably don’t think much about the “like” button because we see it almost every day. Why bother to think about it? Someone likes your post or doesn’t like your post and you move on. Well, here is why you should think about it.

People are using Facebook for more and more complex things that are not just chatting with friends, posting motivational quotes, or telling a family member about what’s going on in their life. Some people are now using Facebook to petition. They can petition for laws to be changes, for action to be taken against bullying, or even to have a TV show put back on air after it was canceled. 

This may still not seem important to you, so listen to this.

A case over the summer concerned six men who were a part of police department. The men “liked” the page of the opponent running for Sheriff against B.J. Roberts. When Roberts won the position, the others were fired. Now, Roberts claims that there are more reasons than just the Facebook shenanigans for dismissing the officers, but that has yet to be seen. So, the men take him to court because Facebook is protected free speech. Right? 

Well, apparently not. According to U.S. District Judge Raymond Jackson, merely 'liking' a Facebook page was insufficient speech to merit constitutional protection. Thus, the workers were ruled against, and now must appeal their case. 

Facebook, however, said “clicking 'Like' was the 21st century-equivalent of a campaign yard sign.” What do you think? Should hitting a mere button be considered freedom of speech?

Personally, if the results are people losing their jobs over it, then I am all for it being protected. Actually, I’ve never heard of not having enough speech to be considered first amendment protected. Now, I don’t usually like the slippery slope argument, but this is a steep hill with a sudden drop we are approaching and maybe we should apply some breaks.

Let’s look at the first amendment for a second.

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Well, I definitely don’t see anything about needing a word count for my opinion to be protected, but the constitution has always had wiggle room for interpretation. Considering the time frame that the first amendment was written, they probably couldn’t even imagine something like Facebook would ever exist.
However, hitting “like” on something is still a form of opinion. Our right to voice what we feel should always be protected no matter how small! If hitting the “like” button is not protected, what will happen to everyone protesting and petitioning using Facebook? They won’t be able to do that anymore because they won’t be protected.

So I say we put a stop to this craziness and make sure all of our speech is protected, no matter how big or how small.

Thanks for tuning in. Make sure to keep watch for my next entry. This is DJ Shenanigans signing off!