So, you think you’ve got a handle on all this social media stuff. Awesome! You’re posting great content and getting a lot of engagement. But, if you aren’t generating this content yourself - i.e. taking the photos, designing the images and writing original copy - chances are you might be using someone else’s content, which is illegal. And, even if your content is original, you could be posting things that can be construed as unethical. (Have you ever posted something that angered some of your followers?) Stay ahead of the game by making sure to keep your content on the up-and-up.
It is illegal to republish or download copyrighted images or GIFs. This includes photos you get from Google images (although there is a tool to search for images that are permitted for reuse). Good stock images almost always come with a fee to use them, so if you’re simply reposting them from some other site, you’re probably infringing on the copyright. Not only that, but the image you simply reposted could have been used illegally as well, making the original source tougher to track down. You don’t want to use images originally published by a site that goes against your brand. Play it safe and buy your images from a stock photo site. These sites have done already done all of the work to secure the rights.
While it is not illegal to post someone’s photo without their permission, it is unethical. You should always ask someone before you use his or her photo online, especially if the person is in an awkward pose.
Most social platforms set a legal age to have an account, many of which are 13 years of age. How many kids do you know under 13 that have an account? Exactly, but that doesn’t make those accounts legal. There are terms and conditions you must go through to set up a social media account, and providing false information violates those terms.
There are tons of ad blocker extensions out there for Chrome, Facebook or YouTube, but many of those are probably illegal. That’s because if you block ads, you’re basically viewing content – that someone else paid for – without their permission, another form of theft. In other words, you're free to block ads, but interfering with the publisher's right to serve or restrict access to copyrighted content in a manner they approve of (access control) is illegal. Sorry, either pony up the money to skip ads or just suffer through them like everyone else.
If you open a parody account on Twitter, you'll want to label that it’s fake. You cannot impersonate others online without that acknowledgment according to Twitter’s terms and conditions. We’re talking to you @PimpBillClinton.
Uploading copyrighted YouTube content has been going on since the platform got started but it’s still – and always has been - illegal. Unless the YouTube channel you’re watching is controlled by the actual network that runs your favorite show, it’s likely to be illegal. For example, I’m guessing the Rocket Jump channel doesn’t have the rights to Key & Peele’s “Mexican Standoff” skit.
Sending a DM over and over is similar to emailing someone over and over, which is email abuse. Usually three is the magic number when it comes to contacting someone. If they haven’t responded by then, it’s likely they’re not going to and it’s just rude to keep trying.
This may go without saying, yet it still bears repeating: refrain from using racial slurs, sexual references and swearing. Social medial is a public forum and all these types of speech can be considered social cruelty. Plus, it is definitely gives the WRONG idea about your brand.
Just because you didn’t create the content, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to link to it. But, If the content is relatable to your brand, throw up a disclaimer first so your followers won’t be caught off-guard.
Social media is not the place to hire or fire an employee. It’s also not the place to reward one employee over another. Keep employee business in the office and off your social media account.
Seem a little overwhelming? Not to worry. We’re experts at wading through social media’s murky waters. We can help you navigate with no worries.