Most public universities in the U.S. censor postings on Facebook pages to soften public criticism, according to a survey by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. Social media forums are private but posts by public institutions are public forums and governed by the First Amendment so must be viewpoint neutral. (Inside Higher Education, April 22, 2020 by Greta Anderson)
The FIRE report describes how Facebook provides its page owners tools to limit user content; how the First Amendment limits page owners use of filters and how a public forum operates; how public institutions are using Facebook and Twitter tools to violate the First Amendment; and how public institutions use Facebook blacklists to restraint speech. In one instance, the University of Kentucky blocked “chicken,” “birds,” and “filthy” at the time that a new food service came on campus.