Internet Law

Social Media Responsibility

Social media sites are developed as a tool to communicate with others by sharing personal information, photos, videos, comments, keeping up with current events, and more. Community sites with user-generated content should be used responsibly. As is the case with the Just Adulting site, links to websites and other resources operated by third parties are provided solely as a convenience to the user.

Generally, when using social media, it is a common assumption that all users are solely responsible for their content – including posts, comments, likes, shares, tweets, re-tweets, follows and favorites. When posting online, you should always assume that nothing on social media is private. Keep in mind all content posted on social media is subject to lawful requests made by governmental and judicial authorities.

Practicing favorable online behavior is best achieved when adhering to these social media etiquette standards:

• Do not post any comments, photos, videos, etc. that suggest or encourage illegal activity.
• Avoid violating any laws and regulations, including intellectual property (IP) rights and others regarding content that you send or receive.

IP is divided into two categories:

• Industrial Property – patents, trademarks, and industrial designs
• Copyright – includes works of art, literature, music, and computer programs
• Never transmit any material in any manner that is disruptive, threatening, profane, abusive, harassing, embarrassing, tortious, defamatory, obscene, libelous or is an invasion of another’s privacy.
• Never transmit any material that is hateful, racially, ethnically, or otherwise offensive. Cyber-bullying is never appropriate.
• Avoid sending unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, or any other form of solicitation.
• Never upload any software that could breach cyber security, such as malware, viruses, key loggers, trojans, etc.
• If you connect your job with your personal social media profile, keep in mind you are representing both yourself and your employer.

Exercising proper etiquette rules when communicating through social media platforms will ensure responsible use of internet resources. Using social media to promote yourself can be an excellent way to highlight your successes. Get acquainted with the unique privacy and security policies of each social media networking site and third-party site you use. Knowing the pros and cons social media provides can ensure you benefit from the educational, positive, and entertainment value these resources can provide.

Sexual Cyberharassment §784.049, Florida Statute

What is sexual cyberharassment?

In 2025, Florida amended its law criminalizing the posting or electronic transmission of sexually explicit images of another person without the depicted person’s consent and contrary to the depicted person’s reasonable expectation that the image would remain private.

A person depicted in a sexually explicit image taken with the person’s consent may retain a reasonable expectation that the image will remain private despite sharing the image with another person.

Why is sexual cyberharassment harmful?

Posting or sharing a person’s sexually explicit image without the depicted person’s consent creates a permanent record of the depicted person’s private nudity or private sexually explicit conduct, which causes the depicted person to experience significant psychological harm.

What is a sexually explicit image?

This means any image depicting nudity, depicting a person engaging in sexual conduct, or depicting the display of semen or vaginal secretion on a person.

What happens if someone posts one of these images?

A person who willfully and maliciously sexually cyberharasses another person commits a first-degree misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

A person with a prior conviction for sexual cyberharassment who commits a second or subsequent sexual cyberharassment offense commits a third-degree felony, which is punishable by up to five years in prison,  a $5,000 fine, or ten years in prison as a habitual felony offender.

A person who sexually cyberharasses another person for the purpose of pecuniary or any other financial gain commits a third-degree felony, which is punishable by up to five years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or ten years in prison as a habitual felony offender.

The victim may also initiate a civil action against the perpetrator and seek injunctive relief, actual monetary damages or $10,000 award (whichever is greater), punitive damages, and reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.