A Guide to Dealing with Online Defamation
Dealing with Online Defamation
These days, the risk of online defamation and false statements circulating online is high due to the rise of social networks and content aggregation sites. Thanks to this, it’s now easier than ever to “speak your mind.” However, not every opinion is positive—some opinions could go as far as to damage a business or a brand. It’s too easy to create content to harm, and if you fall victim to it, you must know what to do.
Is online defamation hurting your reputation?
Waste no time and act on it right away. The more the defamatory statement or post stays online, the more harm it will cause your brand.
The first step that you need to make is to assess the situation. Ask yourself the following questions:
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Can you prove the online defamation? If you have a suspect, make sure that you have the right information that will prove it.
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Have you lost customers? Most of the time, negative posts or reviews online can make you lose customers. If this happens, make sure that you also have data to back this up.
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Have you received messages due to the harmful content? If you get a negative review or post, it’s likely that some people, specifically existing customers, will message you about it to verify. You must keep this in the record.
Second, if you answered yes to all of the above, you can contact the web host/ISP/website to remove the content. In some cases, you can even prosecute against the individual who posted the negative content.
Third, you can consider an online removal service. There are companies today that specialise in content removal services to help brands and individuals save their reputation. Online defamation can be detrimental to a brand or a person’s identity, and it’s essential that you keep your eyes open for negative content or posts.
However, keep in mind that there’s a fine line between negative feedback and content that is written to harm. Negative feedback is, most of the time, essential to your business. You can use this type of feedback to improve certain aspects of your product or service. Additionally, when you gain negative feedback, it is advisable not to take it down. Instead, address it right away. By doing so, you can also help your brand and show your customers that you’re serious about what you do and that you value your customers’ feedback.
On the other hand, content that is meant to harm should be reported and taken down immediately. It’s easy to recognise harmful content that aims to harm the reputation of a company’s image.
Conclusion
If you have been a victim of online defamation, it’s crucial that you act right away. Letting it stay online for long can cause significant damage to everything that you’ve worked hard for. Get in touch with your lawyer and a content removal service company to help get the content taken down immediately. Your lawyer will help you navigate the process and get the right compensation for the damages that it has caused you.
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