For many college students, interacting on social media has become an integral part of their daily routine. However, with the freedom to be whoever you want and say whatever you want on an internet platform, comes the opportunity to say things that could potentially get students in trouble. A spat between friends on Facebook can have serious legal ramifications if an internet threat is made by a college student.

The Life-Long Consequences of Making an InternetThreat Online

Making an internet threat against another person is illegal in every state, even if this threat is made from behind the screen of a phone or computer. If a student is found to have made threats, their entire academic and professional future may be at risk. The presence of internet threats on your academic record can make it difficult for you to move forward with your life. If you’re found guilty, you could get kicked out of school and find it very difficult to find another school willing to accept you. Future employers may be hesitant to hire you. Making internet threats will literally ruin your future.

What Types of Threats Are Considered to be Online or Internet Threats?

Online or internet threats can come in many different forms. Some examples of online or internet threats include, but are not limited to, threatening to kill or hurt someone, making harassing comments or posts about someone, cyberbullying, doxxing, and swatting.

Doxxing is when someone releases private information about another person online without their consent. This private information could include the person's home address, phone number, email address, place of work, etc. Doxxing can be done for many different reasons, but oftentimes it is done to harass or threaten the person whose information has been released.

Swatting is when someone makes a false report to emergency services in an attempt to get police or SWAT teams to respond to the victim's address. This practice is extremely dangerous and often results in innocent people getting hurt or killed.

The above is just a small sample of the types of activities that can be considered internet threats and that can put your entire educational career and future in jeopardy. 

Protected Expression vs Illegal Activity

When it comes to online threats, they’re usually placed under one of two categories: protected expression or illegal activity.

In general, “protected expression” includes anything that is considered to be speech or communication. This can include things like writing, pictures, videos, and other forms of expression. In order to be considered “protected expression”, the speech must not incite violence or illegal activity, and it must not be obscene. Additionally, protected expression is generally given more leeway if it is done in a public forum, like on a blog or social media site.

While protected expression is given quite a bit of leeway, there are still some limits. If the speech or communication includes threats of violence, defamation, child pornography, or extortion, it is no longer considered protected expression but instead considered illegal activity. Additionally, if the speech or communication violates someone's copyright or trademark, it is also considered illegal activity.

It's important for students to know the difference between protected expression and illegal activity online. Just because something is said or done online doesn't mean that there are no consequences. If you're ever unsure about whether something you're planning to say or do online crosses the line into illegal activity, it's always best to err on the side of caution and consult with an attorney.

How to Avoid Getting in Trouble on Social Media

Despite the risks, there are still many reasons why college students continue to use social media. If you are going to use social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, there are some steps you can take to avoid getting into trouble:

Think before you post: Once something is published online, it becomes very difficult to take back. Ask yourself if what you're about to post could be considered threatening or harassing by others before hitting "publish."

Don'trespond in anger: It can be easy to type out an angry response when someone says something hurtful online. However, this can often make the situation worse. If you're feeling heated, take some time to cool down before responding.

Be aware of your surroundings: In some states, it is illegal to make threats against people or property while on school grounds. Be mindful of your location when posting and refrain from making any comments that could be interpreted as threatening while on school property.

Why Should You Get Legal Help?

If you've been accused of making internet threats, it's important to get legal help from an attorney experienced in academic misconduct. An inexperienced attorney won’t know the nuances of this type of law, but an experienced academic discipline attorney can help you understand the accusations against you and how to defend yourself against the school.

The first thing an experienced academic discipline attorney will do is review the accusations against you to determine if they are valid. If the accusations are not valid, the attorney can help you get the charges dropped. Even if the charges are valid, an attorney can help you negotiate with the school to lessen the severity of any sanctions.

An attorney can help you present your side of the story to the judge and jury. An attorney can also cross-examine witnesses and challenge evidence that is being presented against you. Having an experienced academic discipline attorney by your side will increase your chances of getting a favorable outcome in your case.

Joseph D. Lento and the team at the Lento Law Firm have years of experience defending students who’ve been accused of making internet threats. They can help present a defense that will give you the best chance of a successful outcome.

Contact Joseph Lento and the rest of the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686. Your future depends on it.

Meta Title: Student Defense | Internet Threats | Lento Law Firm

Meta Description: A discussion about internet threats and how a student that makes them can get into trouble with their university and ruin their future.