Students, faculty, and staff have long used social media to engage with one another and with the world outside of the institution. However, the expanding reach and evolution of social media platforms has challenged the law – and campus counsel – to keep pace. One post can unleash severe ideological clashes among faculty, students, and the community in a contentious political climate. A new reel can give rise to an entire workstream focused on student-athletes’ ability to use social media for commercial purposes. A five-word Tweet can lead to a five-month legal saga with the growing world of influencers providing social media commentary as the institution grapples with sensitive issues. These are just some of the complex situations arising from social media at colleges and universities. Join us for this 2-hour webinar where presenters will explore legal developments related to social media issues, including:
- Advice for developing and revising social media policies,
- Updates on recent case law in the social media space, including guidance on distinguishing “on-campus” from “off-campus” speech and on addressing and/or disciplining social media behavior by students or employees,
- Pointers for navigating cancel culture when it targets faculty or staff, and
- Pros and cons of institutional responses to disputes playing out on social media, including considerations of reputational risk.
This webinar will be of interest to lawyers employed by colleges and universities within the Office of General Counsel and in various roles throughout the institution, outside counsel, and senior institutional leaders.