Salt Lake Community College

Social & Legal Impacts of the Internet

Benjamin Granvold
CSIS 1430-003
Instructor K. Todd Goulding
November 9, 2015
Benjamin Granvold

Instructor K. Todd Goulding

CSIS 1430-003
November 9, 2015
Social & Legal Impacts of the Internet
In this paper, I will discuss recent social and legal impacts of the
Internet. To limit the scope of this research, focus will be given to specific
areas within each theme. With regard to social impact of the Internet, I will
discuss studies relating to how some types of Internet use affect an
individuals self-image. On legal impact, I will discuss how federal regulations
under the National Labor Relations Board impact what employees are
permitted to say and to not say about their employers in the social media
setting.
IMPACT TO SELF-PERCEPTION
The phenomenon of social comparison is a contributing factor to negative
feelings that can result from using social media sites. With regard to
Facebook, a study has demonstrated that users who review content posted
by others- in place of creating and publishing their own content- feel envious.
The more content they review, the greater the feeling of envy. Because a
general similarity exists within Facebook users social networks and the point
of comparison is usually a users peer, reading about the accomplishments of
others can hit particularly hard. The responsibility of creating and
maintaining an online persona and pressure to post relevant updates creates

stress in some users, and potentially causes them to resent Facebook for the
same reasons that attracted them to it (Konnikova 1). Facebook users also
risk arriving at false consensuses, maintaining contact with people theyd
rather not be in contact with, experiencing jealously with a current partner,
divulging personal information to current or potential employers and coworkers, and addiction (Kenrick 1).
However, some studies favor social media and assert that it makes
users happier. It can potentially increase engagement, social trust, and
political involvement. Users also experience a self-reinforcing psychological
and physiological rush that comes from posting updates. The reward
centers of brain are activated through the mere act of posting, before any
validation occurs from within the peer network (Konnikova 2). In one study,
users were asked to increase the number of their weekly posts for two weeks
and felt increased feelings of social connectedness and reduced feelings of
loneliness. With regard to how any social media user is impacted either
positively or negatively, a comparison can be made to using an automobilewhether or not it hurts depends on where and how its operator drives and
how often he/she gets behind the wheel (Kenrick 1).
PROTECTED ACTIVITES & THE LAW
Legal implications also govern employee conversations posted in social
media forums. Since 1935, National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) has offered
protection to both union and non-union workers who engage in discourse in a
way that improves their pay or work conditions. Specifically, title 7 protects

discourse related to collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection.

Such discussions are concerted activities that are protected form of speech,
as in the form of a Facebook post, for example (Gardella 1).
The general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has
prioritized social media in the past five years to clarify its relationship to
legally protected employee activities. In an August 2014 case, a bartender
posted a derogatory comment on Facebook about her employer because an
accounting error had led to the bars employees owing in back taxes. A cook
at the bar liked her posted comment. As a result, both employees were
terminated. The NLRB found that the employers actions violated the NLRA,
because protection exists for concerted activities even when the complaints
are stated in harsh terms. The underlying nature of the Facebook post
pertained to workplace conditions; as such, the Board demonstrated it was
willing to disregard its casual tone, its profanity, and the use of the Like
button. Furthermore, the NLRA found the employers handbook to be too
vague when defining what constitutes inappropriate comments that could
result in an employees discharge (Gardella 1).
To mitigate this type of misunderstanding, employers are urged to
actively revise and maintain their social media policy. A legal sound policy
should summarize the protected activities that fall within the provisions of
the National Labor Relations Act, as well as confirm that the employers
policies in no way contradict the Act or an employees rights under the Act.
In addition, employers should be specific when explaining what actions can

lead to disciplinary measures (Patterson 1).

While the NLRA ensures protection for a specific subset of activities,
not all types of discourse are protected. An unprotected comment may be
when an employee is attempting to disparage [the employers] product or
services or undermine it s reputation (Gardella 1). Other examples of
unprotected speech may include the disclosure of confidential information,
threats of violence, obscenity, malicious intent, slander, bullying,
discriminatory comments, and comments the employee knows to be false
(Patterson 2).
CONCLUSION
In considering both the legal and social implications of using the Internetand in particular social media- it seems due diligence must be applied to
manage positive outcomes. With regard to social media enthusiasts, selfassessment should be made as to how much time is invested online, how
valuable is the investment, and what the payoff is. Likewise, employers are
responsible for providing succinct communication with regard to policies that
protect all manner of company assets, while ensuring such policies abide by
the protections imparted by the NLRA- especially in cases of employee
discharge.

Works Cited
Konnikova, Maria. How Facebook Makes Us Unhappy.
http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/how-facebook-makes-us-unhappy, September
10, 2013. Internet.
Kenrick Ph.D., Douglas T. 7 Ways Facebook Is Bad For Your Mental Health.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sex-murder-and-the-meaning-life/201404/7ways-facebook-is-bad-your-mental-health, April 11, 2014. Internet.
Gardella, Adriana. Heres Why Employees Can Trash Their Bosses on Social Media.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/adrianagardella/2015/05/21/can-your-employees-trash-youon-social-media/3/, May 21, 2015. Internet.
Patterson, George M. NLRB Continues Aggressive Crackdown On Social Media Policies.
http://www.natlawreview.com/article/nlrb-continues-aggressive-crackdown-social-mediapolicies, September 3, 2014. Internet.