NDM: Free speech will suffer if politicians get tough on offensive tweets

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/26/free-speech-suffer-tough-offensive-tweets

This article focuses on the issue of individuals using social media as a tool to express their views, although there are disadvantages to this. According to this article, social media is certainly a great enabler for free speech and the quickest way to communicate. However, not many people perceive social media in a positively, as in China and Vietnam the internet is closely censored and in Saudi Arabia a simple retweet could lead a person into prison.

Notably, on social networking sites such as Twitter there has been online conflict as users have the freedom to express their views on a issue they disagree with. For instance, in the UK Caroline Criado Perez received misogynistic threats when she launched a campaign to keep a woman on a £10 note. Significantly, rape threats, hate speech and racism are common issues on social media, which made some people perceive social networking sites dangerous.To add, the Crown Prosecution Service published a set of laws in relation to social media and as a consequence, people can be prosecuted depending on what they post on Twitter. It was argued that people should be prosecuted by threats and systematic harassment in order to protect free speech.  

To conclude, it can be argued that there are advantages and disadvantages of using social media. For instance, social networking sites gives users the opportunities to express their views, communicate with others globally, receive the latest news. However, there are disadvantages of using Facebook and Twitter such as racist or sexist comments and threats, which could lead to some people in prison for inappropriate posts. In relation to new/digital media, this establishes the the development of technology has brought about postie and negative issues, which differs from traditional forms of media.