Social media has undoubtedly transformed how we communicate and interact in personal and professional settings. Although social media is widely embraced for its ability to facilitate spontaneity, individuals and businesses must exercise caution when sharing messages on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and others to avoid wide-ranging legal pitfalls. 

Do you have questions regarding the constantly evolving relationship between social media and the law? Keep reading to discover how Skeeters, Bennett, Wilson & Humphrey's exceptional attorneys can help you protect yourself and your business.

Legal Issues You Can Encounter Using Social Media

The use of social media can pose significant dangers, such as the accidental exposure of confidential information or the unauthorized use of copyrighted materials. Additionally, individuals must be mindful of the potential for defamation and the impact of their social media presence on their job prospects or employment status. Using social media responsibly is crucial to avoid the following issues.

Confidential Information

Taking a photo at a business may seem innocent enough to an employee, customer, or visitor who shares it on social media. However, this seemingly harmless act could pose a significant risk if the photo inadvertently captures confidential information in the background. Safeguarding confidentiality is an important concern regarding social media and the law. We recommend periodically reviewing and updating company policies to help employees and other stakeholders fully understand their responsibility to protect the business' private information.

Unauthorized Use 

The word "share" certainly stands out in the social media vocabulary, but not everything online is suitable for sharing, including trademarks and articles, photos, videos, and other copyright-protected materials. While plenty of content is available for free use and “fair use” applies in some cases, copyright infringement is possible as we post to social media and blogs. Pay close attention to terms of use and ask permission to use others’ content.

Defamation

The online world is not immune to the legal consequences of defamation. Individuals who publish false information that harms a person's or organization's reputation on a blog post, Facebook status, comment, or elsewhere online may face legal action.

Human Resources

Job candidates’ and employees’ social media pages are becoming a more common source of information for employers. An employer might not even consider an applicant who has posted offensive text or inappropriate photos. While social media can help companies make hiring decisions, employers must be careful to be sure the information discovered is not used to discriminate against a job applicant or employee unlawfully.

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