This Article is written By Shweta Srivastava of Trinity Institute of Professional Studies, an Intern under Legal Vidhiya
ABSTRACT
In contemporary society, characterized by significant advancements, the evolution extends beyond mere digital innovations; the state has metamorphosed from a repressive regime into a welfare-oriented entity. Consequently, the role of the government is no longer confined to upholding justice for the enhancement of individual lives but also encompasses the imperative to ensure that citizens are informed about legal developments and the decisions impacting them. Given that it is impractical for the government and its ministries to disseminate information solely through traditional channels to such a vast populaces, so, the utilization of the internet has surged. This proliferation indicates that various social media platforms are being harnessed to assist both the public and the government in broadcasting information as well as sharing official perspectives on pertinent issues. Thus, as a significant portion of the populace engages with social media, the necessity for legal literacy becomes increasingly pronounced.
Keywords-
Legal Literacy, Copyright, Data Protection, Lawful Behaviour, Social media, Legal Awareness, Social Awareness
INTRODUCTION
Society is nothing but a group of people living together having some relationship with each other bound by similar customs or traditional practices, and, for a person to be living a respectable life in a society and not to create an animal society, laws plays a major role, and while in a traditional society, there were no laws to regulate the behaviour, the customs, traditional practices that emerged out of the thoughts and interactions of the people, were the main guiding force for them, hence, it can be said, that for a better society, the interdependence of the society and laws is important.
Legal Literacy basically means the very basic knowledge of one’s rights and entitlements and duties.
Knowledge of laws is an essential instrument for self-realization. In India, one of the largest democracies, it is imperative to cultivate a sense of social and legal awareness among the populace, fundamentally to enlighten them about their obligations towards others. This is crucial because when an individual possesses a right, it creates a corresponding duty among others to respect and uphold the rights of the community. In our digitally interconnected world, where nearly all communication transpires through digital mediums and the emergence of various digital platforms allows individuals to present themselves in multifaceted ways, it becomes increasingly vital for legal literacy to be embraced not only by those consuming information but also by those articulating or disseminating it.
THE NEED FOR LEGAL LITERACY
Once, the Former Chief Justice of India, P Sathasivam, “Legal Literacy is essential for the survival of our constitutional Democracy”, as the judicial framework operates on the presumption that all individuals possess an understanding of their rights and that continual efforts must be undertaken to cultivate this awareness, ensuring a systematic functioning of society. It is imperative that every individual possesses a fundamental legal knowledge, for the law serves as the cornerstone of a civilization, existing primarily to prevent a descent into chaos; it is a foundation that nurtures a barren landscape and enriches the lives of individuals within a cultural context.
Legal Literacy, in simple words, refers to the knowledge of the most basic provisions of the law of the land that are available for the benefit of the population, and with such a knowledge the individuals gains power to combat any sort of injustice happening to the rights of oneself. Hence, such a knowledge can not only help one to fight injustice but also create a much needed order in a vast diverse society like ours. Hence, it is important that various far-reaching methods are used to attain this goal.
USAGE OF INTERNET
The rapid technological advancements has led to increase in the people using the internet, presently, there is hardly any work that can be done without the use of internet, currently, for every other work, whether it is payments, storing of records, looking for news, knowing about a new product, getting to know what is going on in the world, for everything people tap onto google and voila! there it is available just at a single tap of the fingers. Not only that, now-a-days, with the use of social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram, whats-app, all this have made so much easier for people to connect with the people and know about the lives of the people from whom they may feel inspired. Internet usage has drastically increased over the past decade. Global Internet users have grown from approximately 2 billion in 2011 to nearly about 5 billion by the end of 2021. This represents a growth rate of about 9% annually[1]. In India, itself the internet consumption increased from about 14% in 2014 to over 55% in 2025. As far as the Data consumption is concerned, the change has been dramatic in India, with about 0.27GB in 2014-25 to about 20.27GB by March 2024[2].
This data represents that the Internet usage has significantly increased in the past decade drastically. Around the world, the number of Internet users has more than doubled with roughly 6 out of 10 people globally now using the internet compared to 3 out of 10 in 2010. this growth has been fueled by increased access and rising popularity of online activities like social media and data consumption.
With the advent of the Internet, a pivotal aspect that warrants discussion is the utilization of Social Media. Social media, which primarily serves as a platform for connecting individuals and disseminating information—what we now refer to as “content”—empowers users to cultivate relationships, explore new interests, and engage with communities for both personal and professional endeavors. The prevalence of social media is indeed on the rise, with global penetration reaching an impressive 63.9% of the world’s population. Now, with such a vast populace being engaged on social media platforms on a daily basis, there are high possibilities of some legal issues to arise, because of the lack of legal literacy among the people. While social media may be used by people to spread positivity and awareness among the people, the platform is also used by many faceless profiles to defame people, pass on hate comments against the people or spread fake news in the times of crisis,and many other legal issues the examples of which can be seen by people in the day to day lives.
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA
On a daily basis, we come across various social media posts or articles on the internet, that may not be entirely correct, or may be defamatory or may be spreading fake information or may be making use of someone’s articles and while many may ignore these facets of social media, we are going to discuss the most common and widely seen legal issues
- Defamation– Defamation is basically when someone says or does such an act, that has the consequence of harming the social reputation of an individual and that is when, one is said to have been defaming a person. Now, seeing it in the context of Social media, there are so many times, we come across an article or a social media post, reel or any video and it contains information about a brand or a person in such a way that is not entirely correct and jeopardizes the social reputation of that person or a brand and that is when the charge of defamation may be attracted.
- Privacy Concerns– Social media is regarded by individuals as a platform to share their lives with followers and well-wishers. While it may be viewed favorably by the majority, there exists a minority who may exploit such content for nefarious purposes, including blackmail or, on occasion, stalking individuals based on their live updates. Presently, DEEPFAKES represent a significant concern, wherein images of individuals are manipulated through artificial intelligence, posing substantial risks to personal safety and privacy.
- Copyright Infringement– Copyright infringement on the internet pertains to the unauthorized utilization or reproduction of copyrighted materials, encompassing any form of text, imagery, music, videos, and software as one’s own. This may encompass activities such as downloading, uploading, sharing, or disseminating copyrighted content without the requisite permission from the copyright holder.
- Cyberbullying– With the use of social media, one of the things that people have been made most exposed to is the evil of cyberbullying. While many people may not be judgemental to the content that is being posted or they may not pass a comment regarding it, many people hiding behind their faceless and nameless profiles pass comments bullying the creators or the people sharing any information. Bullying is something that comes in all forms or shapes, it can be moulded in form of a comment or any abusive language or any other remarks about the body, appearance of the people. Bullying can have a lasting mental impact and cyberbullying generally, puts the creators in a helpless situation because of the lack of measures that can be taken, while a complaint can be filed or an account can be blocked and reported, these bullies many-a-times goes unpunished leaving a lasting impact on one’s mental health.
- Misinformation and Disinformation– Internet provides a free access to people not only to look for information, but to also post information, hence, with such wide and free access, there is a high possibility that with such an immense data being present, it becomes difficult to sift through the relevant data. And with such free expression there is sometimes little to no responsibility that a person assumes while publishing such data, and all this may give way to misinformation and disinformation.
- Hate speeches or symbols– Hate speech can be characterized as discourse that targets individuals or groups based on attributes such as race, religion, or gender. Given that such content may be disseminated anonymously, it has the potential to exacerbate tensions among various communities.
Hence, these are just a few of the legal implications that may arise in a day-to-day use of the social media, so, it becomes important that being the responsible citizens of a country, they should be aware of their duty to the other individuals and it is important that with the help of social media platforms or other ways, some legal awareness is created among the people, to ensure that people do not engage in such legal problems.
And if they do engage in such issues, laws must be made to regulate such practices and ensure that people are punished for their actions and are not allowed to hide behind their faceless and nameless identities.
WHAT DOES LEGAL LITERACY INVOLVES?
Legal literacy encompasses the cultivation of awareness regarding digital privacy legislation, the perils of cybercrime, and the dissemination of knowledge pertaining to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). This includes clarifying what types of content are permissible for download and distribution, comprehending the nuances of copyright and the fair use doctrine, as well as understanding the distinction between free expression and defamation. Therefore, legal literacy is fundamentally about ensuring that individuals possess a foundational understanding of the laws that govern them and recognizing how these regulations can influence their daily conduct.
WHY LEGAL LITERACY MATTERS ONLINE?
Legal literacy is important for the protection of the basic fundamental rights of an individual, protecting them from the exploitation at the hands of the perpetrators, creating a sense of digital accountability is also important among the internet users, so as to make sure that they do not go unpunished for any of the actions that can attract legal liability. Legal Literacy also becomes important for the purpose of creating a sense of empowerment among the legally literate users that they can defend their rights ad seek redress when they are wronged.
CONCLUSION
In today’s digital epoch, legal literacy among internet users, transcends mere necessity—it constitutes a fundamental pillar of responsible and secure online conduct. As individuals increasingly depend on the internet for communication, commerce, education, and entertainment, the potential for legal transgressions, both intentional and inadvertent, escalates correspondingly. A comprehensive understanding of digital legislation equips users to discern their rights, fulfill their obligations, and eschew unlawful practices such as copyright infringement, cyberbullying, or data breaches. Legal literacy empowers individuals to safeguard their personal information, engage ethically in online interactions, and respond adeptly to cyber threats. It also cultivates a culture of accountability and respect within digital realms, thereby diminishing occurrences of abuse, fraud, and exploitation. Moreover, being cognizant of legal repercussions prompts individuals to engage in critical reflection prior to sharing, commenting, or executing transactions online.
Governments, educational institutions, and digital platforms must forge collaborative efforts to promote legal education and elevate awareness through accessible tools and programs. Only through the widespread dissemination of legal literacy can we ensure that the internet remains a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment for all. As internet utilization continues to proliferate globally, equipping users with legal acumen is imperative for constructing a just and resilient digital society.
REFERENCES
- DataReportal- Global Digital Insights
- Invest India
Disclaimer: The materials provided herein are intended solely for informational purposes. Accessing or using the site or the materials does not establish an attorney-client relationship. The information presented on this site is not to be construed as legal or professional advice, and it should not be relied upon for such purposes or used as a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney in your state. Additionally, the viewpoint presented by the author is personal.
0 Comments