Welcome to the new world, where your “personal” social media is about as personal as a company newsletter. This past week, thanks to the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a whole lot of people found out the hard way that while the government can’t shut you up, the company that signs your paycheck sure as hell can. And they’re not even sorry about it.
Here’s the brutal truth that’s been on display for everyone to see:
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The Constitution is a government thing. The First Amendment protects you from the government—not your boss. You can say what you want about anyone, anywhere. But that freedom doesn’t come with a clause that says your job is safe. A private company has a right to protect its brand from you, even if you’re a fantastic employee. If your online antics become a P.R. nightmare, your boss is going to cut you loose faster than you can hit “send” on that tweet.
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At-will employment is a two-way street. It means you can quit for any reason, and your employer can fire you for pretty much any reason that isn’t illegal discrimination. Celebrating a death on social media? That’s not a protected class. It’s a bad look. And companies have decided that a bad look is a liability they can’t afford.
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The digital line is gone. Remember when your work life and personal life were separate? Yeah, that’s over. Your phone is a company asset, even if you paid for it. Everything you post, like, or share is a reflection of your employer—whether you intend it to be or not. Companies are actively monitoring this stuff because a single viral post can tank their stock price faster than you can say, “I regret that.”
So, before you decide to be a hero on the internet and act like a complete idiot for a little social media clout, take a second. Ask yourself if that one post is worth your career.
Because as this week showed us, companies don’t care about your right to free speech; they care about their right to not be embarrassed.
And when push comes to shove, their rights will always win.
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