Brandi Bates, MPIO

8:45 a.m.– 9:30 a.m. PT — Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Navigating Negative Comments and First Amendment Laws on Social Media

This session will equip Public Information Officers with the tools and insights to manage negative comments, trolls, and misinformation on social media platforms effectively and legally. Key topics include:

• Explore the psychology behind negative commenters, including trolls, upset individuals, and persistent haters, to inform strategic and balanced responses.
• Learn practical approaches for handling different types of commenters and when to engage, ignore, or report.
• Discuss why facts alone often fail to change minds, how this contributes to the spread of misinformation, and what you can do about it.
• Delve into the legal landscape of social media, focusing on First Amendment rights, the limits of content moderation, and best practices for working closely with legal teams to ensure compliance with archiving and deletion protocols.