Legal, Policies and Ethics -- Say What?

I have never been satisfied with my lack of technological literacy.  Sure, I am able to get by and accomplish things I want to on my computer, phone, and limited social media sites.  But if I had to step outside that comfort zone and really know what is going on behind the scenes, or set up my accounts in the most secure fashion, I am in big trouble!  We frequently hear about making sure our Facebook accounts, online banking accounts, passwords, security settings, etc. are as secure as possible.  This is one of the areas I really fall short in.  I need to get better educated before someone “educates” me the hard way—after they have stolen my identity, my money, or hacked my email account.  I liked the information concerning this on the following website:

http://facecrooks.com/Internet-Safety-Privacy/how-to-lockdown-your-facebook-account-for-maximum-privacy-and-security.html/

This website ironically is titled “Facecrooks” and gives step by step directions on how to make your Facebook account more secure to protect your privacy.  It also teaches many things I am unfamiliar with--for instance:  What type of email account to use, password protection tips, notifications, use of code generators, privacy settings, selections on who can send you friend requests, filtering levels, who can look me up, search engine preferences, etc. 

This website also gives advice on apps settings, followers, ads, privacy shortcuts, as well as how and what to post, logging out correctly, and using the Help Center.  I decided to apply some of this advice and make some much needed changes to my Facebook settings.  Ignorance may be bliss—but only until someone ruins it. 

What are we allowed to publish, post or say on Facebook or Blogs?  The First Amendment to the Constitution states:

“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.”

The website listed at the end of this blog, gives some in-depth explanations on freedom of speech.

It talks about free speech being one of the most cherished liberties, but that it can also conflict with other rights and liberties.  The types of speech are broken down into three different categories:

1-       Pure Speech:  The verbal expression of thoughts and opinions before a voluntary audience.  The courts have generally provided strong protection of pure speech from government regulation.

2-      Speech-Plus:  This involves actions, such as demonstrations or protesting, as well as words.  Speech-plus is not generally protected as strictly as is pure speech, because actions can be physically dangerous.  The courts have ruled that demonstrators may not obstruct traffic, endanger public safety, or trespass illegally.

3-      Symbolic Speech:  Technically this involves no speech at all, but it involves symbols that the courts have judged to be forms of free expression.  Symbolic actions such as wearing black armbands in school and draft-card burning fit this category.  Symbolic speech is highly controversial, and as a rule, the courts have sometimes considered it to be beyond the limits of free speech.

Now that I have a better understanding about free speech from the first amendment, I feel fairly safe with sharing the basic and non-confrontational blogs and posts I make from my (hopefully) more secure Facebook page and Blog.

http://www.ushistory.org/gov/10b.asp