Social media chats have to observe law

Users of social-networking app WeChat found their feeds full of blurred pictures, many accompanied by flirty captions. [Photo/IC]

AN ELDERLY COUPLE in Haidian district, Beijing, who were ridiculed by two other people in one of their chat groups because they grabbed e-hongbao, or red envelopes containing small amounts of cash, without immediately offering any in return, are taking the two who mocked them to court. The couple claim the two "friends" damaged their reputation in the chat group, and are asking for an apology along with compensation of 200 yuan ($30 dollars) from each. Haidian District People's Court has accepted the cases. Beijing Times said on Tuesday:

It is an illusion that the distance between people is eliminated by social media. Indeed, the virtual nature of bilateral exchanges can make it even more difficult to bridge misunderstandings.

In this instance, the two elderly people didn't know at first how to send the digital red envelopes, which caused others in the chat group to view them as "taking without giving", even though the old man gave out e-hongbao later.

The distance in time and space that is a feature of social media makes it easy for some who might be gentle in person to turn aggressive. Once conflicts explode, nice people may be less careful with their words.

Although the court has yet to determine whether the ridicule endured by the elderly couple reached the level of defamation of character, it is certain that social networks can be a distortion of real society.