Twitter Blocking and 1st Amendement Rights

          

          A few months ago, President Donald Trump was accused of violating the 1^st amendment for blocking people on Twitter, especially anyone that was a critic of him, his administration, or his presidency. A court ruling stated that President Trump could not block Twitter users just because he disagreed with them, and he was forced to unblock any and all people that he had blocked in the past. This matter was seen as a grand victory to the democratic party, who used this opportunity to portray the President as unconstitutional and in direct violation of the 1^st Amendment. This indeed could be seen as a blow to the proud President Trump. However, over the past few months a certain democrat, Amelia Cortez, a freshman representative had a lawsuit filed against her for blocking critics of Twitter. This incident upset the democrats supposed victory over Trump. One of the leading faces of the democratic party and a particular nuisance to Trump, has been accused and found guilty of blocking critics and ignoring the 1^st amendment and the past court ruling against President Trump and his actions of blocking users. Cortez’s actions of blocking people on twitter has seemed to hurt her more; as she is a confirmed and vocal socialist, and many people do not take kindly to socialism in the United States or of those that use socialist tactics.

          

          What does this mean for communication and the rights guaranteed to the American people by the U.S. constitution? Though this subject is a bit of a blur, as people have the right to block people from commenting on their social media pages, but people have the right to voice their opinions, especially when it comes to politics. One of the main issues with blocking people on social media is the result of how people seem to interpret the action. Many people see it as a type of censorship, especially when it deals with critics of politicians. Others see as offensive and unnecessary treatment of people and the respect for their rights. You then have to look at the two people involved and what their parties say. For those against Trump, he is seen as a fascist and some believe that his actions of blocking people on Twitter is similar to the press censorships of Nazi Germany. For those that that are against Cortez, she is seen as a communist that puts down and silences anyone that challenges her word like how the Soviet Union did. In summary, it is merely politics with each supporting their candidate and condemning the other. Social media has been under fire lately for its censorship against certain parties and the rights that many infringe on. However, as stated before this subject is very blurred; as it is every social media user’s right to do what they want to or block whomever they please, but it also falls under the 1^st amendment that every U.S. citizen has the right of freedom of speech. In time their will be a debate of whose 1^st amendment rights topple who, and there will be a day that the politicians that use this for personal gain will have to face the crowd and make a decision of where lines begin and end on freedom of speech and how far does the 1^st amendment cover.


This is the website for a news article regarding Amelia Cortez blocking people on Twitter.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/07/10/ocasio-cortez-faces-lawsuits-blocking-twitter-critics-after-appeals-court-ruling-trump/