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Legal Guidelines for Social Media Content

Legal Guidelines for Social Media Content

Understanding and respecting legal boundaries is essential for responsible social media management for any business or creator using social media. Non-compliance can potentially lead to legal penalties and reputational damage.

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Dec 24, 2023

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Social Media

What is Social Media Law?

What is Social Media Law?

Social media law is an evolving legal field encompassing both criminal law and civil litigation. Compliance with legal guidelines and regulations on social media is crucial for brands to avoid legal repercussions that can arise from non-compliance. Following simple legal principles will protect your brand or business from lawsuits and various penalties. Failure to follow legal principles such as copyright protections can also result in damage to your brand's reputation and a loss in trust from your customers and social media followers.

Legal issues in social media is often related to user-generated content and the platforms that host or disseminate this content. Another major topic in social media law is privacy, specifically relating to the individual rights of social media users as well as those of third parties, such as instances where photographs are shared online without consent of the individuals featured in them. Additionally, social media content can deal with issues of defamation, where false statements made on a social media platform can be harmful to another individuals reputation. Social media law also encompasses intellectual property (IP) rights, considering how material posted on social networks may violate copyright, trademark, or other forms of IP protection, which can lead to legal disputes and enforcement actions. Advertising law is also a consideration and increasingly relevant as social media is the primary advertising channel for many brands and businesses.

Copyright Laws in Social Media

When you produce a creative piece, like a photograph, meme, poem, or song, and record it in a tangible form, you automatically hold the copyright for that creation. Copyright laws also apply to content posted on social media platforms, meaning that you retain copyright over your own posted materials. Similarly, you are not permitted to share someone else's copyrighted content on social media without their consent. It's important to note that when you upload content to a social media platform, you're implicitly consenting to the platform's terms of service. Typically, these terms include granting the platform a license to utilize your content. Furthermore, this action permits other users to redistribute your work on the same platform, provided your privacy settings permit sharing. As a social media user, it's crucial to be aware of and adhere to these terms of service that you agree to by using the platform.

Fair Use

There are certain circumstances where using someone else's content might be allowable, specifically if the usage qualifies under the principles of fair use or fair dealing. These legal doctrines provide a framework for determining when the reproduction of copyrighted material can occur without the need for the copyright holder's permission. Fair use in the United States assesses factors such as the purpose and nature of the use, the amount of the work used in relation to its whole, and the effect of the use on the potential market for the original work. For instance, using a small excerpt from a book for educational purposes or a brief clip from a film for a critical review might qualify as fair use. In the context of social media, determining whether content usage constitutes fair use involves these key factors.

Purpose and Character of Use

This factor, which scrutinizes the purpose behind content sharing, holds particular implications for brands and businesses operating on social media. Non-commercial, educational, or transformative uses of content are typically more favored in the context of fair use. For example, a brand might use a clip from a documentary in a Facebook post to spark an educational discussion or to provide industry-relevant insights, which is often deemed acceptable. For businesses, this means that while leveraging content for educational or transformative purposes can be a valuable tool in their social media strategy, they must be cautious not to cross into commercial content, which could infringe upon copyright laws. The use of such content should ideally add value or provide a unique perspective, aligning with the brand's messaging or educational goals. In cases where the content is used to directly promote a product or service or forms a significant part of a marketing effort, it may not be protected under the fair use doctrine and could expose the business to legal risks.

Nature of the Copyrighted Work

This aspect of fair use evaluation takes into account the inherent nature of the content being disseminated on social media. Content that is inherently educational or academic in nature, like a quote from a scholarly article shared within a professional LinkedIn group, often falls comfortably within the boundaries of fair use. On the other hand, sharing a video primarily intended for entertainment, such as a clip from a popular TV show or movie on Instagram, is less likely to be considered fair use, especially if it doesn't add educational or critical value to the conversation. For content creators and social media users, this distinction underscores the importance of considering the original purpose and context of the material they wish to share. By focusing on content that serves an educational, informative, or critical purpose, users can better navigate the complexities of fair use on social media platforms.

Amount and Substantiality of the Portion Used

This aspect of fair use assessment critically examines both the quantity and the importance of the portion of the work used. When sharing content on social media, such as a brief excerpt of a video on Twitter, it may fall under fair use if the shared segment is a minor fraction of the entire work and doesn't disclose its essential elements or plot points. For instance, posting a short, non-spoiler clip from a film for the purpose of review or discussion could be considered fair use. However, if the shared portion constitutes a significant part of the work, or if it includes key moments or proprietary information, it's less likely to be viewed as fair use. This distinction is crucial for social media users and content creators, as it emphasizes the need to be judicious in the amount of content they share, especially when it comes to copyrighted material. Ensuring that the shared portion is minimal and not central to the work helps maintain the balance between fair use and copyright infringement.

Effect of the Use on the Work’s Market Value

This factor considers the economic impact of sharing content on the original work's market value. If the dissemination of content on platforms like Facebook involves sharing a complete article, it could diminish the audience's incentive to engage with the original source, adversely affecting its marketability and potential revenue streams. This scenario often falls outside the scope of fair use, as it directly competes with the original work for the same audience. For content creators and social media users, this underscores the importance of sharing only portions of a work that won't replace the need for the original, thereby ensuring that the original creator's market opportunities aren't undermined. When the shared content serves as a substitute for the original work, such as reproducing an entire article or a significant part of a video, it's more likely to be seen as a violation of copyright, as it can significantly reduce the demand for the original.

Transformative Use

In social media, what is defined as the "transformative" nature of how content is used plays a pivotal role in determining its eligibility for fair use. When shared content is altered to introduce new expression, meaning, or message, such as remixing a music clip with unique graphics or commentary for a YouTube video, it often qualifies as transformative. This kind of creative modification can shift the original work into a new context or provide a different perspective, making it more likely to be considered fair use. On the other hand, merely reposting content from another user, without adding substantial change or insightful commentary, generally doesn't meet the transformative criterion. This lack of transformation is especially relevant on platforms like Instagram or Twitter, where reposting without modification is common.

For content creators, understanding this distinction is important. Ideally this should guide them to work creatively with existing works, ensuring their social media content remains within the legal boundaries of fair use, rather than simply duplicating content that could infringe on the original creator's rights.

Trademark Law

For social media content, trademark law plays an important role in safeguarding brand identities and ensuring fair competition. A trademark, which can be a name, symbol, or design, is used to distinguish a company's products or services from those of others. On social media platforms, the unauthorized use or imitation of trademarks can lead to confusion among consumers and dilute the value of the original brand. Consequently, businesses have the ability to protect their trademarks and monitor social media for unauthorized use. The enforcement of trademark law on social media is common and increasingly important as social media platforms have become primary channels for brand representation and marketing. This can involve taking legal action against infringements but also carries the risk of inadvertently infringing on others' rights, which can lead to legal disputes and financial liabilities.

For social media content, trademark law plays an important role in safeguarding brand identities and ensuring fair competition. A trademark, which can be a name, symbol, or design, is used to distinguish a company's products or services from those of others. On social media platforms, the unauthorized use or imitation of trademarks can lead to confusion among consumers and dilute the value of the original brand. Consequently, businesses have the ability to protect their trademarks and monitor social media for unauthorized use. The enforcement of trademark law on social media is common and increasingly important as social media platforms have become primary channels for brand representation and marketing. This can involve taking legal action against infringements but also carries the risk of inadvertently infringing on others' rights, which can lead to legal disputes and financial liabilities.

Content Permission

Content Permission

It's important to have explicit permission when using someone else's work outside of posting it on the same social media platform, as finding content on the internet does not automatically grant the right to use it freely. Sharing your creations on social media doesn't grant others the right to use them without giving you credit. For instance, if you design a meme and share it on social media, it's permissible for others to re-share it on that same social media platform. But if someone replicates your meme without crediting you and shares it on their personal feed or beyond the realms of social media, this act doesn't necessarily fall under fair use. Moreover, such actions can violate the terms of service of the social media platform in question.

It's important to have explicit permission when using someone else's work outside of posting it on the same social media platform, as finding content on the internet does not automatically grant the right to use it freely. Sharing your creations on social media doesn't grant others the right to use them without giving you credit. For instance, if you design a meme and share it on social media, it's permissible for others to re-share it on that same social media platform. But if someone replicates your meme without crediting you and shares it on their personal feed or beyond the realms of social media, this act doesn't necessarily fall under fair use. Moreover, such actions can violate the terms of service of the social media platform in question.

Takedown Notices

Takedown Notices

To protect your rights on social media, you can use takedown notices as an effective strategy against infringement. This legal tool serves as a formal request to social media platforms to remove content that unlawfully uses your intellectual property. However, it's important to be mindful of the concept of fair use both for yourself and others before proceeding with such demands. Fair use is a legal doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as commentary, news reporting, education, and parody. Understanding the nuances of fair use is crucial; not every instance of content sharing constitutes infringement. In some cases, what might seem like a violation could actually fall under fair use exemptions and you should carefully review whether the use of your work by others qualifies as fair use.

To protect your rights on social media, you can use takedown notices as an effective strategy against infringement. This legal tool serves as a formal request to social media platforms to remove content that unlawfully uses your intellectual property. However, it's important to be mindful of the concept of fair use both for yourself and others before proceeding with such demands. Fair use is a legal doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as commentary, news reporting, education, and parody. Understanding the nuances of fair use is crucial; not every instance of content sharing constitutes infringement. In some cases, what might seem like a violation could actually fall under fair use exemptions and you should carefully review whether the use of your work by others qualifies as fair use.

Social Media Defamation

Social Media Defamation

In the United States, Defamation is generally defined as a false, published statement that is injurious to the plaintiff's reputation. An online posting, even on an obscure website, will likely be seen by a few people, thus satisfying the publication requirement. In most US states, publication requires only that the statement be seen by one person, other than the maker and the subject of the statement. This definition encompasses any form of publication, including online postings, even if they appear on lesser-known websites. The scope of defamation is broad, as even a single social media post or blog entry can rapidly reach a wide audience, increasing the potential for reputational harm. However, most jurisdictions maintain that for a statement to qualify as defamatory, it must not only be seen but also understood by others as damaging to the reputation of the subject, thereby making the impact and reach of online communications critical factors in defamation cases.

In the United States, Defamation is generally defined as a false, published statement that is injurious to the plaintiff's reputation. An online posting, even on an obscure website, will likely be seen by a few people, thus satisfying the publication requirement. In most US states, publication requires only that the statement be seen by one person, other than the maker and the subject of the statement. This definition encompasses any form of publication, including online postings, even if they appear on lesser-known websites. The scope of defamation is broad, as even a single social media post or blog entry can rapidly reach a wide audience, increasing the potential for reputational harm. However, most jurisdictions maintain that for a statement to qualify as defamatory, it must not only be seen but also understood by others as damaging to the reputation of the subject, thereby making the impact and reach of online communications critical factors in defamation cases.

Freedom of Speech

Freedom of Speech

The delicate balance between freedom of speech and the prevention of harmful speech has been largely left for social media platforms themselves to manage and enforce. While the principle of free speech is a cornerstone of democratic societies, allowing individuals to express their opinions and ideas openly, it has its boundaries, especially when speech becomes harmful. This harmful speech includes hate speech, harassment, and the spread of misinformation, which can have serious societal repercussions. Social media platforms have been compelled to establish and enforce policies that delineate these boundaries, aiming to protect users from harmful content while respecting their right to free expression. These policies often involve moderating content to prevent hate speech, which targets individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, or religion; curbing harassment, which includes bullying and threats

The delicate balance between freedom of speech and the prevention of harmful speech has been largely left for social media platforms themselves to manage and enforce. While the principle of free speech is a cornerstone of democratic societies, allowing individuals to express their opinions and ideas openly, it has its boundaries, especially when speech becomes harmful. This harmful speech includes hate speech, harassment, and the spread of misinformation, which can have serious societal repercussions. Social media platforms have been compelled to establish and enforce policies that delineate these boundaries, aiming to protect users from harmful content while respecting their right to free expression. These policies often involve moderating content to prevent hate speech, which targets individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, or religion; curbing harassment, which includes bullying and threats

Misinformation

Misinformation

Combating misinformation on social media is a critical issue, as its unchecked spread can cause public harm and disrupt democratic processes. Misinformation, defined as the dissemination of false or misleading information, often thrives on social platforms, influencing public opinion and decision-making. This phenomenon poses a significant threat to society by potentially swaying elections, inciting public unrest, or undermining trust in critical institutions. Addressing this challenge requires a coordinated effort from social media companies, policymakers, and users. Platforms are increasingly adopting measures to identify and limit the reach of false information, while also promoting media literacy among users. The goal is to create an online environment where healthy discourse and accurate information can prevail, safeguarding the integrity of public conversations and democratic institutions.

Combating misinformation on social media is a critical issue, as its unchecked spread can cause public harm and disrupt democratic processes. Misinformation, defined as the dissemination of false or misleading information, often thrives on social platforms, influencing public opinion and decision-making. This phenomenon poses a significant threat to society by potentially swaying elections, inciting public unrest, or undermining trust in critical institutions. Addressing this challenge requires a coordinated effort from social media companies, policymakers, and users. Platforms are increasingly adopting measures to identify and limit the reach of false information, while also promoting media literacy among users. The goal is to create an online environment where healthy discourse and accurate information can prevail, safeguarding the integrity of public conversations and democratic institutions.

Valters Lauzums

Adjunct Instructor

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