Exemplar Essay On Best Practices TIP Sheet To Write After

Social media has evolved over the years, this being credited to, among other reasons, technological advancements. Social media has its pros and cons. In as much as the citizens of the country are granted freedom of speech and most of them use social media as a platform to exercise this right, there is the need to be responsible for avoiding instances of libel. This thesis is to explain how instances of libel occur on social media and the effect that it may have on the company’s image.
Libel is a civil offense that occurs when an individual prints false statements and puts the statements on a permanent media with the intent to destroy the reputation of an individual or company. The media used could include photography, television, radios, and the social media such as Facebook and Twitter.
Individuals have been granted the freedom to post any information that they may wish to on social media. However, people have used this as a leeway to defame other individuals. Libel law can be applied on social media platform in instances where the particular information causes harm to another, it is false and not a mere opinion, and it is published and communicated to a third person in this instance online posting.
Libel being a civil wrong, will not get an individual convicted. However, the defendant will be required to pay a substantive sum of money to that effect. An instance where libel law may be used: when a photographer takes certain photos and uses social media to spread false information about the person. A vivid example is when a journalist from MGN claimed that Naomi Campbell was using drugs since he had photographed her leaving a rehabilitation facility. The photographer was charged with libel on grounds that the information was false, and it had the capability of harming Naomi Campbell reputation as she is a model.
A comment on a particular topic on Facebook and Tweeter could also lead to the application of libel law if it hurts the reputation and exposing the person to ridicule. An instance that depicts this was when a woman shared a photo of a man taking photos near children claiming he was a “creep” and the information was false. On those grounds, she was charged with a libel suit.
The best practices about libel law and social media use that should be followed when posting using company’s social media includes:
1. Before posting any information on social media think carefully and be specific so as to avoid instances of libel suits.
2. Ensure that a thorough investigation is carried out on specified issues before posting the information to verify whether it is true or false.
3. In exercising one's view on social media avoid making criminal allegations against an individual.
4. All tweets have hashtags, therefore if a person decides that they would like to comment they should use hashtags that would not be defamatory.
5. Finally, individuals should be apologetic and take responsibility for their actions in case they have been charged with libel.
The best practices are essential because they create a standard that the people ought to conform to and ensure that they take responsibility for anything that they may post on social media. This being a company there is a reputation that ought to be upheld, and this can only be achieved by following the rules.