Why You Should Not Publicly Shame Someone on Social Media

We live in a world where shaming people on the internet and cancel culture has become the norm. It’s impossible to browse through Facebook or Twitter without seeing posts about “rude” waiters or videos of angry “Karens” refusing to wear masks. With cameras and internet access on our devices, it’s both easy and tempting to shame someone for inappropriate behavior.

The internet harassment lawyers of Minc Law field calls from thousands of victims of online shaming each year. Having seen both sides of the issue, we would like to share reasons you should think twice before shaming someone online.

Online shaming can lead to harsh consequences for everyone involved, including:

• Ruining reputations and careers
• Causing severe psychological damage
• Being targeted or shamed yourself
• Civil and criminal lawsuits

In this article, we’ll discuss the unintended consequences of online shaming and why it should be avoided, then provide alternatives so people can feel heard without dire consequences.

Common Reasons for Online Shaming

Public shaming isn’t new. Public humiliation has occurred in society for ages. However, the internet and social media have taken this behavior to a different level. Online shaming happens on a much larger scale, in more organized ways, and with greater consequences.

Some common reasons people engage in shaming behavior include:

Cheaters & Adulterers

Sexual impropriety has long been a source of public shame. Today, entire websites (e.g., CheaterReport.com, ShesAHomewrecker.com) are devoted to shaming those accused of infidelity. Much of this content is intimate in nature, often including nude images or videos.

Deadbeats

Websites like DeadbeatsExposed.com shame individuals for behavior the shamer finds morally unacceptable, from failure to pay child support to parents caught doing drugs.

Negative Business Reviews

While complaints about poor service aren’t new (the oldest known customer complaint dates back 3,700 years to ancient Babylon), sites like RipoffReport.com and PissedConsumer.com provide new outlets for venting. Today’s consumer complaints can be shared worldwide with just a few clicks.

Doxing

Doxing occurs when someone shares your personal information online, including your real name, address, phone number, or workplace. It’s often used by internet vigilantes who want to subject someone to harassment.

Criminal Behavior

The internet has made it easier to share news of criminal behavior. A whole web-based industry exists making individuals pay to remove their images from online mugshot websites.

Revenge Porn

Sharing sexually explicit content without the subject’s consent is known as revenge porn. If you share explicit images of someone as a means of shaming them, you could face serious criminal repercussions.

The Streisand Effect

In 2003, Barbara Streisand discovered an image of her residence online that had only been viewed 6 times. Her attorneys tried to remove the image through a lawsuit, but this brought media attention to the very thing she sought to censor. Within a month, the image had approximately 500,000 views.

This phenomenon, where attempts to hide something only make it more popular, can hurt both the “shamee” and the shamer.

Cancel Culture & Social Justice Warriors

Social justice warriors (SJWs) often call out others for behavior or ideas they disagree with. However, they tend to focus more on blaming and shaming than starting dialogue, leading to division rather than progress.

Take Goya Foods, for instance. When Goya’s CEO endorsed President Trump, it sparked calls to boycott the company. However, this also created a “Buy-cott Goya” movement, ultimately generating hundreds of thousands in revenue for the company.

Why You Should Not Shame Someone Online

There are several compelling reasons to think twice before posting that shaming content online. The consequences can be far-reaching and often unexpected.

You Can Ruin Someone’s Reputation & Livelihood

Online shaming can cause long-term damage to someone’s reputation. You could be responsible for someone losing their job and income. Even if someone did something wrong, consider whether their family deserves to suffer too.

In 2012, Mark Adam Smith confronted a Chick-Fil-A employee over the company’s anti-LGBTQ stance and shared the video on YouTube. The video went viral, and Smith became a victim of shaming himself. He was fired, received death threats, and contemplated suicide. Years later, he still couldn’t find work and relied on food stamps.

Shame Can Last Forever

Things posted online can last forever. Even if you delete a post, screenshots make it permanent. If scraper sites repost the content or news outlets pick up the story, there’s no going back.

The psychological damage can be severe. One victim wrote about the ever-present role of shame after being called out for cheating. Others have suffered worse consequences, like the 47-year-old clerk who took his life after being accused of racism on Facebook.

Unintended Consequences of Shaming

Viral posts take on lives of their own. In 2018, “Permit Patty” was caught on camera calling police on an African-American girl selling water. The video went viral, and she resigned from her cannabis products company. However, her employer also faced threats and boycotts despite having nothing to do with the incident.

Revenge porn can lead to drastic unintended consequences, including criminal extortion and death threats against the victim.

The Shaming Incident May Backfire on You

Not everyone who views your post will take your side. People may harass you, call you a bully, or accuse you of lying. Online shaming often attracts negative attention rather than support.

You Could Face Legal Consequences

If your post isn’t true and harms someone’s reputation, you could be sued for:

• Defamation
• Online harassment
• Cyberbullying
• Invasion of privacy
• Intentional infliction of emotional distress

You could also face criminal charges. According to studies, 4 in 10 Americans have experienced online harassment, and many states have added criminal statutes to protect victims.

In a recent example, two women tweeted allegations that Justin Bieber sexually assaulted them. Bieber’s attorneys filed a $20 million defamation lawsuit, claiming the allegations were “fabricated.”

Alternatives to Online Shaming

Instead of resorting to public shaming, consider these more constructive approaches that can help resolve issues without causing unnecessary harm.

Confront the Person Privately

If your issue is with someone you know personally, confront them privately. Keep your anger in check while expressing your emotions to gain closure.

Take the High Road

Sometimes it’s better to walk away than bring more attention to a negative situation. Your anger will dissipate faster than you can resolve a potential lawsuit.

Pursue Legal Action

If you believe someone has committed a crime, report it to the police. Social media isn’t the most effective venue for justice. Shaming someone for sexual assault online could interfere with legal proceedings and won’t prevent future harm.

We Help Victims of Online Shaming

We find it disappointing how prevalent online shaming has become, and we do everything in our power to stop it. If you’re thinking of shaming someone online, please think twice about the potential consequences.

If you’re a victim of online shaming, we can help you navigate the difficult process of content removal and reputation repair. Check out our other articles on cyberbullying or contact us for a free case review today.