In today’s digital age, social media platforms like Snapchat are integral to the lives of teenagers, and many parents worry about the challenges that come with them. However, few could anticipate that a teen’s Snapchat post would escalate to a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. But that’s precisely what happened with the Johnson family.
The situation began when 14-year-old Mia Johnson shared a Snapchat message with her 250 friends after not making the varsity cheerleading team at Mahanoy Area High School. Frustrated, she vented, captioning a photo of herself and a friend giving the middle finger with, “Forget school, forget softball, forget cheer, forget everything.”
While the snap vanished after 24 hours—just like most posts on the app—someone managed to take a screenshot, leading to consequences. The image reached the coach’s daughter, who, along with a few cheerleaders, voiced their concerns, resulting in Mia’s suspension from the cheerleading team for the year. Her parents contested this decision, seeking help from the ACLU, and the case eventually found its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Justin Harper, a law professor at Yale and author of The Schoolhouse Gate: Public Education, the Supreme Court, and the Battle for the American Mind, referred to this case as “the most significant case” on student speech in over five decades. This claim is not unfounded—it carries monumental implications for students’ First Amendment rights.
The landmark case Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District from 1969 established that students do not lose their constitutional rights at school. However, it also recognized that schools could limit speech that causes substantial disruption to school functions.
At first glance, one might view Mia’s case as a mere teenage tantrum, but the implications extend far beyond that. Frank LoMonte, director of the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information at the University of Florida, emphasized that this case addresses student speech in various contexts.
On one side of the argument, Mia was not on school grounds when she expressed her frustrations; her outburst occurred off-campus on a weekend. Conversely, students are often expected to adhere to codes of conduct, and Mia was not denied her right to education—she was simply removed from the cheer squad. Furthermore, she had signed a cheerleading code that mandated “respect” and prohibited negative communications while part of the team.
The school district contended that such decisions should be left to coaches and administrators, not federal courts, arguing that the First Amendment should not interfere with school policies. They maintained that rules on speech are necessary to prevent bullying and protect students.
In Mia’s defense, advocates argued that this was not a case of bullying. “Schools need to address cyberbullying,” stated a representative from the ACLU. However, the disagreement lies in how much authority schools should exert in such matters. Mia’s father voiced concerns about the school’s overreach, suggesting that a simple warning would have sufficed.
Adding another layer to this already complex case are the unusual alliances formed around it; nine Republican state attorneys general and numerous organizations and individuals have expressed support for Mia’s stance.
This case undoubtedly poses significant questions about students’ free speech rights, both in and out of school. With the current Supreme Court’s composition and Chief Justice Roberts’ tendency to favor a broad interpretation of free speech, Mia might have a favorable outcome. Nonetheless, the nature of the case—centered on an extracurricular activity—raises the question of whether it is a matter of free speech infringement or simply facing the consequences of one’s actions.
Regardless of the ruling, this case serves as a crucial lesson for teens, highlighting that freedom of speech does not equate to freedom from consequences. Moreover, in our digital world, privacy is an illusion, and nothing is truly ephemeral; screenshots can endure long after the original post disappears.
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Summary:
The case involving Mia Johnson, who faced suspension from her school’s cheerleading team due to a Snapchat post, has reached the U.S. Supreme Court, raising critical questions about students’ free speech rights. As this legal battle unfolds, it highlights the intersection of digital communication, school authority, and the importance of understanding the long-lasting implications of online actions.