Social media covers a number of different platforms that enable a user to interact and share information such as comments, photographs, videos and audio, publically or privately with another user online.  The most well-known internet-based communication tools include LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Wikipedia and Facebook. 

Social media has dramatically changed the way in which businesses must monitor and manage their reputations. In the past, companies could exercise strict control over their brand image via carefully constructed marketing and advertising activities. However, businesses are now subject to a level of public scrutiny never before experienced. The explosion of social-media platforms that enable real-time comment has created virtually unlimited potential for the public instantly to share information about their experiences with a worldwide audience.

This has presented challenges for the regulation of the Law. This site and its materials offer the authors insights into the future of the law surrounding social media. On the site you will find current awareness updates, insights into the law and various articles discussing the impact of social media in areas such as celebrity culture, defamation, sports law, revenue generation and e-commerce.

Laura Scaife

Laura is an innovative thinker in the field of Social Media working within a Legal Regulatory Services Group.

Laura has been extensively published on matters concerning compliance with e-commerce issues arising out of the Office of Fair Trading and Advertising Standard Agency guidelines as well as online revenue generation, defamation, electronic communications based offences, effective dispute settlement, business crisis management and reputational management. She has also produced recommendations for the legal sector and businesses generally on the effective and compliant use of social media which have been delivered through seminars and featured in industry accredited, legal  and journalistic publications.


Laura has been published in the following sources:
  • Society for Computers and Law
  • E-Commerce and Policy
  • E-Commerce Law Reports
  • Communications Journal
  • British Sports Law Journal
  • World Sports Law Reports
  • Young Solicitor
  • Lexology
  • How-do Media Magazine
  • The Next Woman