Viral Words, Real Consequences: Defamation in the Social Media Era

Author(s)	Anisha Sonwal, Bharti Yadav
Country	India
Abstract	Social media’s global reach enables viral defamation to inflict profound harm, causing reputational damage that often leads to anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, and stalled careers for victims. Rapid transmission of remarks, memes, or videos—often without verification—means consequences can be both immediate and severe, outpacing traditional legal or ethical responses. This paper investigates the socio-psychological and technological mechanisms of online defamation, highlighting how easy anonymity, jurisdictional complexity, and platform liability challenge victims and the legal system alike. Key judicial pronouncements, such as in the Shreya Singhal case, reveal ongoing tensions between freedom of expression and the right to reputation, emphasizing the need for a legal framework that adapts to emerging digital realities. The study concludes that modern, nuanced legislative reforms should be urgently considered to balance free speech with personal dignity and ensure cross-border accountability in a digital world. Comprehensive protection of reputation now demands coordinated legal, technological, and ethical strategies.
Keywords	viral defamation, freedom of expression, reputation, social media, legal framework, psychological impact.
Published In	Volume 6, Issue 9, September 2025
Published On	2025-09-01
DOI	https://doi.org/10.70528/IJLRP.v6.i9.1722
Short DOI	https://doi.org/g93mnm

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