November 06, 2017

You are responsible for what you publish on social media

MMA in the media
By admin 102 Comments

Ever posted pictures of your sweet baby in the bath or moaned on social media about your impossible teenager taking the car for a joyride? Sharenting’s not necessarily caring – and it could land you in trouble.

If you wouldn’t put it up on a billboard on the N1 or M3, don’t put it up on social media. That’s the message to consumers of social media from Taryn Hinton, legal adviser and co-ordinator of Media Monitoring Africa’s Reporting on Children in the Media course.

“People seem to think there’s a different set of rules that apply online. If you defame someone online, it’s the same as in print but you are more likely to reach a far broader audience on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. There’s no such thing as anonymity – you’re always able to be tracked. Once it’s out there, it’s been seen and it can be shared, reposted or screen-grabbed.”

Article by: Georgina Crouth, “You are responsible for what you publish on social media“, IOL News, 6 November 2017.