‘It’s really a minefield’: exploring the disconnect between understanding of social media policies and academic freedom and behaviour online

Social media has become essential to academic communication, offering a platform to share research and teaching, to counter misinformation, and to contribute expert perspectives. Academics’ public engagement can also attract controversy and create tension between academic freedom and universities’ desire to manage reputational risk. In Australia, universities have long promoted academic freedom, but this principle is tested when scholars’ online expression provokes negative attention. This study uses surveys and online focus groups to examine how academics understand academic freedom, their use of social media, and institutional support. Findings reveal that although many academics are confident in their conceptual understanding of academic freedom, they often feel constrained when expressing themselves online. The article argues that a perceived lack of institutional backing and fear of consequences contributes to self-censorship, limiting scholars’ online engagement and undermining academic freedom.