Be careful – defamation on social media can cost you
With the rise of social media on the internet, defamation cases are piling up all over the world.
People need to be more careful of what they post in a fit of rage – one click and the post goes viral.
“Gossip groups” on Facebook are in constant danger of defamation, so people need to be careful what they say to or about other people – the wrong person sees it and, with the proof of defamation, can take the relevant parties to court.
When are you defaming someone?
When using social media sites such as Facebook, a post merely has to be published and it is out of your control.
Some “friends” on your Facebook are complete strangers and you are indirectly relying on them not to spread a foul post.
Remember, it’s not just your close friends and family who see what you post.
Generally, defamation is a false and unprivileged statement of fact that is harmful to someone’s reputation and published “with fault”, meaning as a result of negligence or malice, according to www.eff.org.
Libel is written defamation, while slander is spoken defamation.
Falsely accusing and naming a person of wrongdoing on social media can get you sued and can cost you thousands. Even if it wasn’t intended, you are actively participating in harming this person’s reputation.
By sharing a friend’s post which accuses someone of something without being proven, you are also defaming this person.
This means you may be liable for what others say and are liable for what you say.
