Posting political opinions or claims on social media can lead to significant legal consequences, according to an Arkansas State University professor of political science.
Dr. Cameron Wimpy, an associate professor at the university, said platforms like Facebook and Twitter have fundamentally changed how people engage in political discourse. While they offer alternatives to traditional news sources like television, newspapers, and radio, they also introduce challenges such as misinformation and disinformation.
“It provides alternatives to accessing information through traditional sources, whether it be TV news or newspapers, radio, things like that,” Wimpy said. “But with that come challenges and tradeoffs.”
Certain groups face additional scrutiny when sharing political content, particularly clergy, educators, and government employees. According to Wimpy, these individuals must be cautious about their postings, especially if they are acting in an official capacity. For nonprofit religious institutions, there are specific restrictions.
“They’re not supposed to be taking a stand on politics in terms of endorsing candidates or parties,” Wimpy explained. He emphasized the importance of sharing personal opinions only through individual accounts, rather than official or organizational ones.
The risks extend beyond professionally affiliated accounts to include private individuals. Wimpy outlined two key areas of concern: illegal activities and violations of social media companies’ terms of service.
“One is what would be illegal, and another one is what would violate terms of service for the social media companies,” he said.
For instance, false claims about political candidates could lead to defamation lawsuits, although legal standards for these cases are stringent when it comes to public figures.
“Public figures have a higher scrutiny, a higher bar to pass for any type of suit to be brought and be heard,” Wimpy said. He advised against posting unverified statements about candidates’ private lives, encouraging social media users to ensure they have evidence or proof before sharing such claims.
Additionally, misinformation about election procedures—such as incorrect details about polling locations or voting requirements—could violate federal or state-level laws.
“The mechanics of voting, polling places, saying things like, you’re going to need a passport to vote this year,” Wimpy said. “So, things that are factually not true, those are all illegal, again, under different federal and state laws.”
While social media has become a key part of modern political discourse, Wimpy’s warning underscores the importance of sharing factual and verifiable information, both for personal accountability and to avoid legal consequences.