In an era where social media platforms dominate daily communication, the issue of defamation of character has taken on new significance. The rapid spread of information, both true and false, can have profound effects on schools’ reputations, relationships and students’ mental states.
Defamation is the act of damaging someone’s reputation through false statements.
“The main area where people have had rumors spread about them or anything like that has been from social media,” Erik Engelstatter, assistant principal of Linganore High School (LHS) said.
Platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram allow users to post content instantly and anonymously, reaching vast audiences within seconds.
“It seems to have picked up more,” Engelstatter said. “The method has changed to online social media platforms.”
These defamatory statements can spread quickly and widely, often before the subject is even aware of them.
“Report it, block it, capture the evidence,” Engelstatter said.
The rise of social media has complicated the landscape of defamation law, especially from anonymous users.
LHS school counselor Alli Rohrer says, “A lot of kids who commit defamation won’t get caught due to anonymous connections on these platforms”
“22% of Americans experienced severe harassment on social media between April 2023-March 2024.” Shayna Meisel, current employee for the Anti Defamation League says, “an increase from 18% from the previous year, including an increase in physical threats from 7% to 10%.”
The anonymity can embolden users to post defamatory content without fear of repercussions.
Meisel says, “our Audit of Antisemitic Incidents shows that five of the past six years saw record-breaking numbers of incidents, with increases in each of the past five years.”
“Students committing defamation have more confidence behind a screen,” Rohrer said. “I think kids are under the misconception that they can say anything and not deal with consequences.”
A big reason defamation is overlooked is that many who commit defamation do not receive consequences. And schools can only do so much to help. “We are allowed to implement disciplinary intervention,” Engelstatter said. ‘we [school staff] take it very seriously because it does cause harm.”
Meisel says, “Different states have different laws, statutes, histories and consequences for how they interpret and respond to defamation.”
The impact of social media defamation is not limited to celebrities and public figures. Ordinary individuals can find themselves the target of false accusations and damaging statements, often with severe personal and professional consequences. In some cases, victims have reported losing jobs, relationships, and even their mental health as a result of online defamation.
“They can’t have an impact on mental health,” Engelstatter said. “Some kids do not want to come to school because they feel paranoid over the rumor being said.”
Some schools have spread awareness of these situations in an effort to help victims of defamation
Engelstatter shared what students who have been the targets of online defamation can do in the school environment.
“They can come and talk to somebody and … we will follow through with that investigation,” Engelstatter said. “The big thing is getting out to people what that process is and making people comfortable.”
“Sixty to 70% of the students I have worked with have been related to acts of defamation through these social media platforms,” ”Rohrer said. “I’ve worked with lots of rumors from social media, which is most definitely considered defamation of character.”
Legal recourse remains an essential tool for those seeking to address defamation. Victims can pursue lawsuits against individuals who post defamatory content, but these cases can be lengthy and costly. Additionally, the burden of proof lies with the plaintiff, who must demonstrate that the statements in question are false and have caused harm.
Meisel says,”ADL does not have a universal recommended consequence for defamation. Education and accountability for one’s actions are key to ensuring that it does not persist.”
“Social media is a big reason for the rapid growth of defamation,” LHS behavioral support specialist Mary Johnson said. “It is very hard to prove these rumors are false due to the lack of evidence and the anonymous users posting these accusations.”
As social media continues to evolve, so will the challenges associated with defamation. Users must navigate the fine line between free expression and the responsibility to avoid causing harm to others.
The legal system and social media platforms are working together to find effective solutions to this growing problem, not only to help the victims of defamation but to make these platforms a safer environment.
