Defamation And Social Media: First Impressions Count

Are first impressions everything? According to a recent decision from the Sheriff Appeal Court, a first impression is a lasting impression for the ordinary social media user.

Tweets published by a trade union employee regarding wages of restaurant staff were considered defamatory due to their meaning on face value in the eyes of the ordinary Twitter user.

In 2023, The Real Living Wage Foundation increased its living wage. This meant that businesses across the UK could then no longer claim to hold the 'real living wage' accreditation without a significant jump in hourly rates.

In March that year, employees of popular Glasgow restaurant Brel were informed that their hourly rate would not be increasing in line with the real living wage. Instead, their wages would rise in line with the national living wage, a lower-than-expected increase.