It's done in a fit of anger or outrage, often late at night
after more than a few drinks. But it can have serious consequences
and increasingly can lead to court action that ends up costing a
lot of money.
Typing nasty comments about somebody on social media whether it
is via a blog, on Facebook, on Twitter or even retweeting someone
else's offensive tweet can amount to defamation under the law.
Just because it is broadcast by an individual over social media and
heads out into the ether rather than printed in a newspaper or
broadcast by a major media organization such as a television or
radio station does not mean the defamation is immune from the
law.
Victims of defamatory comments on social media are increasingly
seeking retribution through the law. In recent cases a NSW teenager
was ordered by a court to pay $105,000 for defaming a teacher on
Twitter. In Western Australia a woman had to pay $12,500 to her
ex-husband after posting damaging claims about him on
