Social media is a very broad topic. We can talk about many things in regard to social media. Its benefits to business entities and marketing aspects of it and disadvantages, like cyberbullying, and defamation. Social media is an excellent tool for promoting oneself and one’s business, and it has greatly impacted brand management and reputation for multinational companies. However, with its widespread use comes the need for laws governing its usage and protecting users, such as “social media laws.”
It is important that individuals know what they are posting before posting. To know key legal issues, social media compliance, as each social media have its own compliance requirement and guidelines. This can either be your Instagram policy or bumble guidelines on what to post and what not to. These guidelines majorly include something like, not spreading hate speech, and are against cyberbullying, impersonation of a person, etc., The same for which one has options to file a report or block the said person. However, regulation of social media becomes very hectic as there are at least more than fifty million users. Hence, it is vital to understand the possible legal consequences of your activity that happens on social media.
Social Media is now a constant part of our lives. This is for individuals, celebrities that communicate through social media with their fans, small businesses that grow exponentially, and individuals who are connecting with other individuals throughout the world.
Clever use of social platforms can provide entities and many others with avoiding multi unwarranted lawsuits. Social media also provides immediate advertising for products and services that will reach people across the globe. The same will also enhance and expand brand awareness. But a lot can go wrong with improper use as well. Let us know and understand its implication with the help of this article. In addition to learning about laws that govern social media regulations, and policies.
Key Legal Provisions to Know About:
Social media laws constantly need to evolve. The times are changing and with it, there is a desperate requirement that the law keep up with the changes in society. Let us go through the enforced Acts that distinguish this landscape.
- Anti-SLAPP Statute: Caters to lawsuits that are brought forth in a court of law on deterring the exercise of free speech on social media platforms.
- Communications Decency Act: standardizes indecency and obscenity in cyberspace.
- Computer and Fraud Act: It talks about trespassing into the virtual part of the world.
- Copyright Act: The Act talks about the exclusive right of authors, in addition to talking about liability on third-party service providers.
- Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act: also abbreviated as COPPA, restricts the compilation of personal information on children below 13 years of age.
- Lanham Act: Standardizes trademarks,
- Stored Communication Act: also abbreviated as SCA, which precludes entities from accessing and collecting certain personal information.
Role of social media lawyers: “Laws associated with social media litigation include the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the Communications Decency Act. Defamation and privacy lawsuits can be filed based on social media content. Social networking sites often have greater protection under the law than their users. Social media lawyers may defend users who are accused of crimes or defamation, or the online services who are sued for the actions of their users. Attorneys who specialize in IP law can assist those who believe their trademarks, logos, or copyrighted materials are being used improperly on social media.”[1]
[1] What is Social Media Law? | Winston & Strawn Law Glossary
