Freedom of speech
Lancaster University believes in the freedom of speech. It also believes in accepting the responsibility that comes with it, and in exercising freedom of speech within the context of our values. Please consider the impact of what you post on those who access it, and how it reflects on you and the University.
- Do not post content that is discriminatory, or use social media to bully or harass others. Behaviour on social media can damage your reputation, and that of your university. The negative impact can be significant and long-lasting.
- As well as content you share, you should also consider other actions you take on social media – such as content you repost, ‘like’ or react to, reply to, or remix. There are many ways to amplify or engage with the content of others. By doing so you may create an association between yourself and the viewpoints or actions of other individuals or organisations.
- Social media is unlikely to be the best place to express anger or raise complaints. Please consider the impact your activity may have on the people who administrate University and other official channels, and use the appropriate complaints process or go directly to the relevant team with any issues you may have.
- Arguments can quickly escalate on social media and in comment threads. Engagement is typically a futile exercise, with little chance of reaching a resolution, and significant risk of posting comments you may later regret. It’s best to avoid online arguments.