Censorship in Education and the Role of Online Reputation Management

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In this article, we’ll discuss censorship in education and how online reputation management (ORM) can help navigate certain challenges.

Throughout U.S. history, educational censorship legislation has been a contentious issue. When the topic of censorship comes up, debates will spark about academic freedom, intellectual growth and stimulation, and how large of a role schools should have in shaping students and their values.

In today’s digital age, the topic of censorship is even more layered than in the past. Online platforms, including social media, are able to rapidly disseminate information faster than ever before. This poses both opportunities and challenges for educators and students.

We can help you create a positive online reputation, even if you’re starting from zero or rebounding from reputational damage. Call us at 941-259-4554 for more information.

What Is Academic Education?

A stack of books is on fire in front of shelves filled with blurred books. The flames rise from the top of the pile, creating a striking contrast with the orderly background of the library.

In an educational setting, censorship refers to restricting or suppressing ideas, information or materials. There are many ways that censorship can occur in school:

  • Limiting Student Expression: Censorship can control and restrict students when it comes to what they wear, what they’re allowed to talk about freely, and the content included in student publications. Commonly, justifications for these restrictions include preventing disruption in the educational setting, maintaining order, or protecting the rights of other students.
  • Restricting Access to Materials: Educators and/or students may not have access to certain articles, books or websites. The reasons for the restriction of these materials include obscenity, political viewpoints, or religious references. It’s also possible that the materials are considered inappropriate for certain age groups.
  • Using Filters on the Internet: In some school districts (as well as in some libraries), there may be internet filters to block or restrict access to certain websites. Generally, these websites are ones that are either harmful or inappropriate. For example, they may contain hate speech, pornography, or violence.

Many different definitions of censorship exist. However, it generally refers to the withholding of information from someone else.

At times, classroom censorship is necessary to protect students. In other instances, though, it’s seen as a way to limit and control what students have access to. This could prevent their growth and impede their academic freedom.

History of Censorship in the U.S.

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According to A History of Censorship in the United States, published in the Journal of Intellectual Freedom and Privacy, censorship is commonly viewed as a First Amendment (freedom of speech) violation, particularly when it comes to libraries.

One problem with the “right to free speech” defense is that the First Amendment isn’t concrete, and it can be open to interpretation. First Amendment cases have made their way to the United States Supreme Court, even.

Obscenity and Banned Books

Historically, one of the oldest reasons behind censorship has been obscenity. Books that depicted intimate acts were commonly censored, and it eventually became a crime to mail obscene materials as well. However, the word “obscene” was also used to refer to advertisements and other materials that included information about abortion and contraception.

Even books that only had obscene excerpts were once banned, halting their publication in the U.S. In the early 1930s, a ruling established that in order to be obscene, the entire work must meet the criteria, not only part of it.

Political and Social Views

In 1943, a Supreme Court case ruled in favor of two students who had been expelled from their school after refusing to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and salute the American flag. The students were Jehovah’s Witnesses, and their religion forbade them from pledging to symbols.

In 1969, another Supreme Court case ruled in favor of three students who had been expelled due to wearing armbands in protest of the Vietnam War. According to the ruling, students don’t abandon their rights under the Constitution once they enter school. The ruling decided that the First Amendment protected their right to express their political views at school.

Censorship in the 20th Century

Close-up of three music album covers featuring "Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics" labels. The covers display various colorful designs and illustrations, including a cartoon brick wall with blue and purple elements.

Throughout the 20th century, as new modes of entertainment popped up, new censorship attempts did as well.

The Motion Picture Production Code

In the 1930s, the new Motion Picture Production Code set guidelines and censorship laws for what could and could not be shown in U.S. motion pictures. Censored content included adultery, passionate scenes, and even certain types of dancing.

Comic Books and Censorship

When comic books made their way onto the scene in the 1930s, educators quickly objected to them, as they were considered to be in poor taste and to negatively influence the reading abilities of students. Among the content objected to were skimpy clothing on female characters and glorifying villains. Eventually, depictions of poor mental health became an objection against comics, too, particularly when horror comics started to grow in popularity.

After the forming of the Comics Code Authority (CCA), publishers had to submit their comics for screening. If the comic was in compliance with the code, a seal of authorization was added to the comic book cover.

The Recording Industry and Parental Advisory Labels

In the mid-1980s, Parental Advisory labels began appearing on audio recordings if the content included inappropriate references or excessive profanity. Originally, the labels were affixed to physical cassette tapes and CDs. Today, with most music being digital, the label is typically embedded in the album’s digital artwork.

How Technology Impacted Censorship

A diverse group of children in a modern library using computers at long desks. A teacher assists a student. Bookshelves line the walls, and each monitor displays educational content. The setting is bright and focused on learning.

The landscape of classroom censorship went through a transformation in recent years with the rise of the internet and other digital technologies. 

The internet offers never-before-seen access to information and perspectives, which poses a challenge to those in educational settings who formerly were able to gatekeep knowledge.

Today, there are various types of online censorship: 

  • Blocking specific IP addresses
  • Filtering internet and software access
  • Removing content from online curricula
  • Suppressing different viewpoints on digital platforms like social media
  • Surveilling students’ online activity

Today’s educators must balance access to information with safety so that students stay protected. Certain types of access can lead to cyberbullying and being the target of online predators, which educators have to consider when deciding what content should be available.

The Case for Classroom Censorship

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Next, we’ll go over the arguments for and against classroom censorship, beginning with support for censorship. Here are the arguments that censorship advocates often make to support their views.

Note that while the language in the following sections confirms a specific viewpoint, it doesn’t necessarily match our opinion — it’s simply written that way for clarity.

Protect Students from Accessing Harmful Content

  • Limiting the Spread of Misinformation: By filtering access to software and websites, school districts can limit how much and how quickly disinformation and misinformation spreads. This is particularly important when it comes to certain topics around current events, U.S. history and science.
  • Prevention of Online Harassment: Censorship measures, like monitoring students’ online activity, are sometimes used to prevent cyberbullying and other types of online harassment. Social media policies may serve the same purpose.
  • Protection for Minors: It’s the school’s responsibility to protect minors, and that includes keeping them from exposure to explicit, violent and harmful content. Exposing them to such content could negatively impact their development.

Maintain Order in the Educational Setting

  • Creating a Distraction-Free Learning Environment: Censorship can keep the learning environment safe and orderly. Students are then able to learn in an environment that’s free from disruptions and distractions.
  • Protecting the Education Process: Restricting some type of student expression, like what they wear or their speech, can help the educational process flow better. This prevents disruptions to the overall educational process and protects the rights of affected students.
  • Upholding School Standards and Values: Some American schools will censor offensive materials or profanity for the purpose of upholding their standards and values.

Promote Learning and Development

  • Fostering Critical Thinking and Literacy: By encouraging students to question information bias (in other words, censorship), they can develop critical thinking and media literacy skills.
  • Guiding Student Choices: Censorship can point students toward appropriate learning materials while preventing them from accessing inappropriate content that may not be a fit for their age or their educational goals.
  • Protecting Emotional and Psychological Well-Being: Restricting access to content that can be triggering or upsetting protects the emotional and psychological well-being of students.

Reflect Societal Norms and Values

  • Encouraging Social Cohesion: Censorship that prevents the spread of materials that may incite discrimination, hatred or violence can promote cultural and social cohesion.
  • Protecting Religious Groups: Restricting access to certain materials protects religious groups that could find the information blasphemous or offensive.
  • Upholding Community Standards: Censorship measures help the educational setting reflect the norms and standards of the school’s community. This is particularly important in areas with strong cultural or religious beliefs.

Protect Parental Rights

  • Exercising Authority Over a Child’s Education: It’s common for parents to feel that they should have a right to control what their children learn in school. This sometimes includes censoring the materials they’re exposed to.
  • Involvement in School Decisions: Parents often want more involvement in censorship-related school decisions. For example, they want involvement when it comes to available library books and policies about internet filtering.
  • Opting Out of Educational Materials: Many parents want the right to remove their children from activities that they don’t feel are appropriate, and the same goes for censoring the materials they’re exposed to at school.

The Case Against Censorship Efforts

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Next, we’re going to cover the many arguments against censorship in educational settings. Here are the arguments that opponents of censorship often make.

Suppression of Academic Freedom and Growth

  • Discourages Expression: Censorship has a negative effect on free expression. Namely, students feel that they can’t have open, honest conversations about political and social issues.
  • Restricts Access to Different Perspectives: Censorship limits student access to different ideas and perspectives. This hinders their critical thinking skills and intellectual growth.
  • Violates First Amendment Rights: Many people feel that censorship in educational settings violates the First Amendment rights of students, limiting their freedom of speech and expression.

Creates an Atmosphere of Distrust

  • Creates a Controlling and Suspicious Environment: Censorship can erode the trust between students and administrators or educators, which creates an environment of control and suspicion. 
  • Teaches Students to Avoid Challenges: Censorship tells students that they should be afraid of and avoid challenging alternative ideas. This limits their ability to think critically and independently. 
  • Undermines Open Dialogue: Censorship devalues debate and open dialogue, which are essential skills that students should develop to participate in society.

Relies on Counterproductive and Ineffective Policies

  • Difficulty with Censorship Policies: It can be hard to define and enforce policies surrounding censorship, which can create inconsistent and inequitable guidelines.
  • Increases Student Curiosity: Censorship tends to backfire, driving students to become more desirable of and curious about banned content. They’re more likely to try to access restricted materials.
  • Technological Difficulties: It’s extremely difficult to censor information online, as students can easily access banned material when they’re on non-school networks.

Encourages Conformity

  • Limits Diversity: Censorship controls how many diverse viewpoints (if any) students have access to. This, unfortunately, promotes conformity and discourages independence. 
  • Silences Voices: Marginalized perspectives and voices are naturally silenced by many types of censorship. This limits equality and social justice movements.
  • Rewards Conformity: An environment of censorship suppresses dissenting views while rewarding conformity, which only further solidifies uniformity.

Censorship and the Impact on Media Literacy

A woman with curly hair and glasses is focused on using a laptop at a library. She is seated at a wooden table, with bookshelves and other people working in the background. The atmosphere is calm and studious.

Instead of worrying about censorship, many opponents of it feel that schools should spend more time helping students develop critical thinking skills and media literacy. These are necessary to evaluate information, identify objectivity versus bias, and tell the difference between fact and fiction.

Additionally, instead of banning materials and topics, students should be encouraged to share critical inquiries and engage in open dialogue. This is the best way to ensure students are capable of having productive, respectful conversations even when discussing challenging topics.

If schools were to emphasize the responsible use of technology when educating students, focusing on ethical online behavior and digital safety, students would have a more wholesome experience with tech.

Online Reputation Management and Classroom Censorship

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Censorship in educational settings is a hot-button topic that’s highly debated, and it carries significant implications for administrators, educators, institutions and students.

Today, information is readily accessible and online discourse is widespread. Online reputation management plays a role in censorship, especially as the ability to inhibit or protect intellectual freedom evolves and becomes more complex.

Social Media and Student Safety

Social media platforms are important online areas where students can express themselves. However, these platforms also present challenges, particularly related to safety. Cyberbullying, misinformation and online harassment can all run rampant on social media. 

Since there’s a large crossover of social media content and online reputation, ORM is tied to the information and actions that can easily spread on social sites. When that behavior affects a school’s or student’s online reputation, ORM may be necessary to reinstate a positive online image.

Censorship and School Reputation

There are different types of censorship controversies that can affect a school’s online reputation:

  • Damaging Media Coverage: The media loves reporting on censorship issues. As a result, critical articles can show up online, and you might experience social media backlash or public protests.
  • Erosion of Trust: Censorship and related controversies can erode the trust that students and parents have with school administrators and teachers. This can create a climate of resentment and suspicion. 
  • Negative Public Perception: The public can develop a negative perception of the school, which can impact community support, enrollment and fundraising. 
  • Social Media Backlash: Social media is able to quickly amplify criticism of schools with censorship policies. These platforms can then be used by community members, parents and students to express their opposition to education policies.

Do you need to speak with an expert about reputation monitoring, management or repair? Get in touch with us by calling 941-259-4554 today.

How Can Schools Manage Their Online Reputations?

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There are several ORM strategies that schools can use to proactively address censorship-related challenges and limit or avoid reputational damage.

Proactive Reputation Monitoring

  • Track Online Mentions: By monitoring online conversations related to your school, you can quickly identify censorship-related mentions on forums, news sites and social media.
  • Identify Issues: Monitoring allows you to quickly identify potential controversies or emerging trends about censorship policies that could affect your school’s online reputation.
  • Detect Crises Early: When you’re able to spot a PR crisis before it happens, you can intervene and hopefully stop it from spinning out of control.

Crisis Planning

  • Develop a Crisis Communication Strategy: Every school should have protocols for responding to controversies, including what to say to media inquiries, on social media, and when communicating with stakeholders.
  • Maintain Transparent Communication: It’s important to maintain open, transparent communication with parents, students and the community about your school’s censorship policies and how those decisions were made.
  • Address Concerns: Always address the concerns raised by parents, students and the community. Make sure everyone feels acknowledged, and do so in a way that’s compassionate instead of unsympathetic.

InternetReputation.com provides the information and services you need to protect your digital presence. Get started with a free online reputation analysis by calling 941-259-4554 today.

Reputation Repair

  • Address Negative Content: When it comes to defamatory statements and inaccurate information online, directly address the content to correct what’s being said. Remain professional and friendly, but don’t be afraid to be frank when setting the record straight. Whenever possible, providing proof of how your education system operates will be a big help.
  • Leverage Positive Content: At the same time, highlight the positive content that your school and the community are spreading online. Focus on the school’s education philosophy, achievements of students and teachers, and how the school is engaging with the community.
  • Rebuild Confidence: By consistently communicating and engaging with parents, teachers, stakeholders and the public, you’ll slowly rebuild trust in the school.

Professional Reputation Repair for Schools

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In an increasingly tech-savvy and internet-reliant world, ORM services can help educational institutions deal with the reputation-affecting outcomes of controversial issues surrounding censorship. Your classroom instruction, school curricula and education system shouldn’t be impeded because of disagreements over free speech.

With proactive monitoring, an effective crisis plan, professional communication strategies, and a commitment to building and rebuilding strong relationships, your school can avoid some or all of the reputational damage resulting from a censorship controversy.

At InternetReputation.com, we provide online reputation management information to educational institutes that want to create, grow or repair their digital presence. When you’re navigating the balance of student learning and safety with free expression, our advice, services and team of experts can help.

We offer a range of ORM services that will help with academic censorship issues, including content removal, online review management, and reputation repair following a crisis. Our five-step process includes analysis, web property development, content creation, publishing and promotion.

Our clients come to us when they need to build or repair their online reputation and take control of their digital presence. Call us at 941-259-4554 to learn more.


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