Social Media and the Law

• Consider the subtopics listed on the left side of this guide, or look at a table of contents in a general book on social media 
• Look at the social media law news sources and blogs, linked below.
• General news can provide topic inspiration.
• New cases, new legislation, or proposed legislation can provide paper topics.
• Look for unresolved issues, circuit splits or cases of first impression. See suggested searches below.
• Ask ChatGPT - but remember that its data stops at 2022.

If you WANT to be published, you will have to make sure your topic is not preempted. A preemption check is not required for the Social Media Class. 

LOOK AT LAW REVIEW articles:
When you have at least a general idea for a topic, search law review articles to see what has been written recently. Your paper should cite to some law review articles.

News and Blogs - Helpful for Topic Selection

Blogs

Suggested searches of case law databases on Lexis or Westlaw: 

1. (issue or question or matter /s "first impression" or novel) and "social media" & da(aft 1/2023)
2. (court or circuit /s split) and "social media" & da(aft 1/2023)
3. conflict! or split! or division or divid! /10 authority or preceden! or lower court or circuit or state supreme court and yourtopic 

• Add words that further describe your topic - evidence, advertising etc.
• try adding: atleast5("social media") 
• In Lexis, try Search within Results - coreterms('social media")
• In Westlaw, try Search within Results - sy,di('social media")
• you could limit to federal appellate and U.S. Supreme.
• adjust the date as needed