If you’ve been defamed on social media, you might be wondering whether you have a legal claim. Defamation is when someone makes a statement about you that’s false or causes you injury. While not every untrue statement is actionable, many are. For example, if someone accuses you of child abuse on social media, that statement could be considered libel. Even if the statement is partially true, it can still be considered libel if it damages you.
If you’re a California resident, you can file a defamation lawsuit against the person who made the defamatory statement. If you’re a business owner, you can sue a former coworker for false statements about your job performance. While you can’t force the person to remove the post, you can sue them for damages.
Defamatory statements on social media are harmful for you personally and professionally. They can be spread to hundreds or even thousands of people, damaging your reputation, and possibly even causing you to lose your job. They can also damage your relationships with family members and friends. They can even cause suicide and attempted suicide.
In order to make a defamation claim, you need to be able to show that you were hurt by the defamatory statement. This means that the statement should be proven to be true, and you must prove that the statement has a negative effect on your life.
