KYR: Social Media Blocking by Public Officials
Last updated: May 22, 2023 10:30 am
Public officials increasingly use social media to communicate with their constituents and the public. As a result, many people are asking about the constitutionality of public officials blocking members of the public on social media.
Here's what you should do if you believe you have wrongly been blocked by a public official from social media used to conduct government business:
Step 1: Collect any information that shows the social media account is used for government business and proves that you were blocked, including screen shots.
Step 2: Contact the office of the elected leader or government agency and politely request that you be unblocked. You can include references to this guide and/or the information collected in Step 1.
Step 3: Contact the Civil Rights Division of the Delaware Attorney General’s office to file a complaint and/or get advice.
You can read our letter to legislators about maintaining first amendment rights on social media:
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