Social media platforms in contemporary times have transformed how we relate, talk, and give information. However, several challenges come with it, and these have an effect on users as well as the platform owners themselves. For instance, when dealing with privacy and intellectual property disputes, there is a need to understand all aspects of media laws and regulations. Therefore, This article will look at social media posts and include insights from class discussions to give an overview of its various aspects.
Social media legal challenges primarily revolve around privacy. Films, pictures, and secret information are occasionally posted without missing their impacts. In one study, the significance of user consent and privacy settings in protecting users’ details on social networking sites is highly stressed (Mousavi et al., 2020). For example, various third-party software applications and data breaches have repeatedly violated personal information; hence, strong laws on privacy are warranted. Consequently, regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ensure that the privacy rights of the users are upheld. Furthermore, these rules hold online sites accountable for any misuse of user information they facilitate.
Social media is an essential legal component in terms of intellectual property rights. Studies reveal that users use plagiarism, illegal content, and copyright violation as common problems (Henderson, 2022). In addition, other studies have discussed the intricacies of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and equal use doctrines in resolving copyright issues on social media (Geiger, 2021). Platforms and automated content recognition technologies use content moderation guidelines to reduce infringement even though problems persist in ensuring the adequate protection of intellectual property.
Online abuse and cyberbullying have been worsened by the rapid growth of social media, creating complex legal problems. A specific perceptual piece analyzes the psychological health effects and legislation frameworks that deal with online bullying (Tao et al., 2024). Many works also discuss the significance of community norms and platform policies in curbing illegal acts, but this implementation could be more effective. Thus, laws such as anti-cyberbullying statutes and improved collaboration between social media platforms and police agencies must be put in place to combat this menace universally.
In social media management, control and freedom are frequently discussed. Social media platforms enable one to voice opinions, but one must create a secure online society. Furthermore, research reveals that filtering content that upholds free speech can be challenging for these firms. This study also highlights how Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects companies from liability claims related to user-generated information (Riemer & Peter, 2021). Nevertheless, questions about law and policy arise when proposals make platforms liable for harmful content under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
In conclusion, social media entails many legal aspects, including but not limited to freedom of expression, cyberbullying confidentiality, and proprietary rights. Such perspectives can be gained through active participation in class talks and reading various publications on the topic. These publications should be done by policymakers, lawyers, or users to ensure security and fairness as technology advances in the digital world.
Geiger, C. (2021). “Fair use” through fundamental rights in Europe: When freedom of artistic expression allows creative appropriations and opens up statutory copyright limitations. The Cambridge Handbook of Copyright Limitations and Exceptions, pp. 174–194. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108671101.014
Henderson, J. J. (2022). Free speech in social media. Social Media and the Law, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003174363-1
Mousavi, R., Chen, R., Kim, D. J., & Chen, K. (2020). Effectiveness of privacy assurance mechanisms in users’ privacy protection on social networking sites from the perspective of protection motivation theory. Decision Support Systems, 135, 113323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2020.113323
Riemer, K., & Peter, S. (2021). Algorithmic audience: Why we need to rethink free speech on social media. Journal of Information Technology, 36(4), 409-426. https://doi.org/10.1177/02683962211013358
Tao, S., Lan, M., Tan, C. Y., Liang, Q., Pan, Q., & Law, N. W. (2024). Adolescents’ cyberbullying experience and subjective well-being: Sex difference in the moderating role of cognitive-emotional regulation strategy. Computers in Human Behavior, 153, 108122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.108122