Your Blog Posts Could Generate Lawsuits

Social media has certainly changed the way we communicate. Did you know it also may have changed our insurance needs? Blog and Facebook posts can generate liability that may not be covered under homeowner’s insurance policies.

Personal injury claims for defamation or slander and invasion of privacy are a growing concern. Under most standard homeowner’s policies, personal injury is not covered but you can add an endorsement.

That said, personal injury coverage has limitations. When these posts are intended to harm, as can be the case when young people take part in cyberbullying or “electronic aggression,” coverage may not apply.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define electronic aggression as “any type of harassment or bullying that occurs through email, a chat room, instant messaging, a website (including blogs) or text messaging.”

Acts of electronic aggression are considered intentional acts. Even if your child forwards an offending post, your family may be drawn into litigation or a police investigation.

Clearly, monitoring your child’s online behavior is critically important, but you also may want to think twice about your own posts. In one case a man posted damaging remarks about an eBay vendor, who retaliated with a $15,000 lawsuit. In today’s world, no one is safe from electronic litigation.

Remember, once you post something, you usually can’t take it back.

If this concerns you – and what parent wouldn’t be concerned – talk to my office about adding a personal injury endorsement to your homeowner’s policy.