The US might restrict social media in prisons and inmates are worried: ‘I may lose my voice soon’

Platforms like TikTok have helped inmates stay connected with family, share their stories online and shed light on prison abuse

A proposed change to US prison rules is threatening to punish inmates for using social media or directing others to do so on their behalf, severing what some view as a vital link to the outside world.

Delores Eggerson manages her son's social media accounts while he serves a life sentence in Arkansas. For almost 22 years, she's logged into his Facebook from her home in Manville, Texas, screenshotting messages from old classmates, or photos from family reunions. It's become her way of feeling connected - a part of his incarceration - and the solitary life he now has to lead.