EIGHT VALUES OF FREE EXPRESSION

Individual Self-Fulfillment ( aka Self-Actualization) — see C. Edwin Baker, Human Liberty, and Freedom of Speech
  Free speech enables individuals to express themselves and thereby create their own identity — and, in the process perhaps, find kindred spirits. Freedom of speech thus becomes an aspect of human dignity, human agency, and autonomy.

After taking time to analyze each of the eight values of free expression, the one that resonates the most to me is Individual Self-Fulfillment also known as Self-Actualization. This value ultimately provides individuals the ability to create their own identity by sharing their thoughts and opinions with the public. “Freedom of speech thus becomes an aspect of human dignity, human agency, and autonomy.” This feels to be the most important value of free expression because it allows individuals to develop and express their own opinions the way they choose to.

Out of the eight values of free expression, Self-Fulfillment connects to me the most due to the fact that it has shaped me into the person I am today. Without freedom of speech in the United States, we would not be the country we are today. Although we are not perfect, the growth and change that has come from our freedom of speech in the United States have helped create progress and move us in the right directions. This is why Self-Fulfillment means more to me than the other values of free expression because it has helped me learn and grow into the person I am.

I believe Self-Fulfillment is relevant in today's society due to the fact of social media's growth just in the last decade since 2010. With the swipe of a finger, young adults from all over the world can share their own self-image using the content of their social media to create a personal brand. They can create their own identity and self-fulfillment through expressing their own personal beliefs and opinions on a variety of different social media platforms.


Social media has had the biggest impact on the younger generations. There are many apps downloaded on cell phones which allow these young growing individuals to express their feelings and opinions as freely as they please. "The social media platforms have a growing importance in our lives since they are the places where we “showcase” our living experiences."(1) Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok, Facebook, and Twitter are the most popular social media platforms in today's society. They are used to do just what Self-Fulfillment is all about, providing individuals the ability to create their own identity by sharing their own thoughts and their own opinions to the public through social media platforms. With just a click of a button, people are given the opportunity to portray their own thoughts and opinions on a larger scale. Now more than ever, social media platforms are being used for people to stand up for what they believe is right along with creating controversial conversations within society. Specific and relevant issues we have encountered recently include conversations regarding race, gender, environment, and politics. Although these are all great attributes to social media, there are nearly as many negative drawbacks to young adults and teenagers spending so much time on social media.


Beyond the positivity and connection that comes with the meteoric rise of social media in the last decade, there is a negative side to the amount of time young adults spend. Of the 750 13- to 17-year-olds surveyed by the Mayo Clinic in 2018, 97% currently use at least one social media platform, such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat. (2) Despite this study representing only a small scale of the younger generations that use social media platforms, the numbers paint a picture of some of the negative drawbacks. 




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