Influencers who frequently share their opinions 🗣️ with followers via @youtube 📺 or blogs 📝 are often the most popular, especially when these opinions are controversial.
However, these individuals must be cautious 🚧 when voicing their opinions online 🌐, especially if they want to keep their business out of trouble.
While America’s constitution 🇺🇸 promotes citizens’ rights to free speech, it is possible to abuse or use this freedom in illegal ways.
For example, anyone posting controversial or political opinions online must be sure to differentiate those opinions from fact.
While most bloggers ✍️ won’t face a defamation lawsuit in their career and can usually avoid paying damages 💰 when they are sued, there’s always a risk of murky water 🌊.
No matter who your audience is, spreading false 👎 information – even as a joke – about another person or company could easily result in a defamation case, especially if it has negative effects on their reputation.
Take, for example, the case of American online gaming 🎮 company Evony suing a British blogger for defamation.
Similarly, spreading false ❌ information about a current event or news 📰 item is never a good idea. Be sure to confirm ✔️ any and all facts you have about a story before writing it, especially if you’re hoping to be considered a real journalist now or in the future.
Even when writing untruths won’t necessarily get you into legal trouble, it could still mean the end 🛑 of your online business or career.
Once readers, followers, or fans 👥 determine that you are no longer a reputable source, they will most likely turn to a new YouTuber lawyer or blogger who is more likely to provide them with facts.
Your followers want to associate with people and brands they can trust 🤝, so respect them enough to provide them with legal, libel-free opinions when sharing, and your business will be protected 🛡️ as well.