“What are the rules regarding free speech for GIs on Facebook? Two are being brought up on charges for saying that Navy sucks.”
This from a GI Rights Hotline list I’m on. That threat both seems to belie and kind of explains why Facebook is permitted but MySpace banned on bases, at least according to this NYRB piece:
One of the most notable examples of class distinction…came from the US military, which permitted soldiers to use Facebook but banned MySpace in 2007:
Facebook is extremely popular in the military, but it’s not the [social network] of choice for 18-year-old soldiers, a group that is primarily from poorer, less educated communities. They are using MySpace. The officers, many of whom have already received college training, are using Facebook.
MySpace remains banned within the military to this day, while Facebook, despite security concerns, is still available to American troops.
My theory? The officers are on already on Facebook, chatting with their college buddies and juggling its news feeds; and they can use it to check on their soldiers. Whereas braving MySpace, with its relentless music and layout worthy of Kandinsky, takes effort.
Thus, using your real name and posting NAVY SUCKS does sound like you’re testing something. I’ll try to keep you posted about what happens next, unless it would violate confidentiality in some way. In the meantime, I suggest a new Facebook ID, with an upside-down flag in case of a photo.
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