Under the Secretary of Defense’s guidance on Communication with Presidential Campaigns, military members “are prohibited from engaging with potential candidates and their authorized representatives on any matter related to their official duties under any circumstances.” As the 2016 Presidential Election is coming to a close, it has been evident that following this direction is of the utmost importance. There is an unwavering trust in military members and consequently, the possibility to influence civilian’s decisions in major political events that make up our democracy. Historically, there was a fear that the military could overpower and topple a government; but that fear has practically diminished today, even if the probability of it remains.
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Anything can be posted, re-posted, shared, liked, commented on with a click of a button. According to New York Times article, Facebook Has 50 Minutes of Your Time Each Day. It Wants More. James B. Stewart writes that Facebook has said that the average amount of time that each person spends on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and messenger platforms is 50 minutes per day. This can be no surprise then that it has some sort of influence on everyday decision-making. The danger with social media is that there is no filter for wrong information. People can post whatever they want with very few consequences most of the time. Information and rumors also spread extremely fast with hardly any control on what gains attention, once it is released. The DoD has specifically stated in the Guidance on Political Activity 2016 that, “military personnel may generally express their personal views on public issues or political candidates via social media platforms … [but] the posting must clearly and prominently state that the views expressed are those of the individual only and not of the Department of Defense.” It is also strictly stated that military members “must be careful not to comment post, or link to material that violates the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) or Service regulation.” With the power social media in spreading information, extreme caution should be
Anything can be posted, re-posted, shared, liked, commented on with a click of a button. According to New York Times article, Facebook Has 50 Minutes of Your Time Each Day. It Wants More. James B. Stewart writes that Facebook has said that the average amount of time that each person spends on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and messenger platforms is 50 minutes per day. This can be no surprise then that it has some sort of influence on everyday decision-making. The danger with social media is that there is no filter for wrong information. People can post whatever they want with very few consequences most of the time. Information and rumors also spread extremely fast with hardly any control on what gains attention, once it is released. The DoD has specifically stated in the Guidance on Political Activity 2016 that, “military personnel may generally express their personal views on public issues or political candidates via social media platforms … [but] the posting must clearly and prominently state that the views expressed are those of the individual only and not of the Department of Defense.” It is also strictly stated that military members “must be careful not to comment post, or link to material that violates the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) or Service regulation.” With the power social media in spreading information, extreme caution should be