Social media has become an integral part of society today. In the United States, there are 200 million individuals using social media on various platforms. Social media has many positive aspects, including staying connected with loved ones from anywhere in the world; however, there are many negative aspects to social media. Many laws have not kept pace with the fast growth of social media. Because there are laws that do not account for social media, several vulnerable groups of individuals are left exposed to the darker side of social media.
Everyone deserves the right to consent to what is posted about them online. When nursing home residents are denied that right, the family members of that resident may have cause for a nursing home abuse claim.
What Are Examples of Social Media Abuse in Nursing Homes?
Many individuals in nursing homes totally depend on the care of the nursing home staff due to life-altering diseases or illnesses that leave them vulnerable. While you would hope that the staff would never put your loved one in harm’s way, it is an unfortunate fact that nursing home abuse is more common than one might expect. Social media abuse is a problem that occurs due to a lack of laws and regulations governing the issue. This leaves elderly individuals vulnerable. Some examples of nursing home social media abuse include:
- Sharing humiliating photos or videos of nursing home residents
- Forcing an unwilling nursing home resident to be a part of a video, photo, or livestream video
- Sharing personal and embarrassing details about residents in social media posts
While the nursing home staff member that committed the abuse will likely be fired, it does not change the fact that your loved one has suffered from social media abuse. That is why it is essential to contact an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer who may help you pursue justice.
Can Social Media Abuse Be Unintentional?
You have likely seen a post of an older adult dancing or doing something funny, shared it, and never wondered whether that photo or video could be considered abuse. While some social media posts may not be malicious, everyone deserves the right to privacy. If a nursing home resident cannot consent to the post, the content should not be posted at all to avoid an accusation of social media abuse.
Prevent Social Media Abuse by Choosing the Right Nursing Home
The only way to prevent social media abuse entirely at a nursing home would be to ban all smartphones from the premises. Although you cannot guarantee that social media abuse will not occur, you can still take steps to choose a safe nursing home with caring staff for your loved one. These steps include:
- Take into consideration nursing home ratings based on health inspections, staffing information, and quality measures.
- Ask to see recent inspection reports from staff. If there was an issue with social media abuse or any abuse, these cases must be reported on the inspection.
- Ask about the facility’s policy for cell phone use during work hours for staff.
- Ask what their policies are for monitoring and reporting social media abuse.
The safety of your loved ones is essential. That is why it is crucial to ask questions regarding social media abuse when choosing a nursing home.
Get Help from a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer at Dalli & Marino Today
The nursing home abuse lawyers of Dalli & Marino have seen firsthand the social media abuse in nursing homes. Social media abuse is a growing problem amongst nursing home residents. Everyone has a right to privacy, and social media abuse strips individuals of that right. If you believe that your loved one has been a victim of social media abuse at a nursing home, you may want to get help from a nursing home abuse lawyer.
Dalli & Marino has a team of experienced nursing home abuse lawyers that help clients in New York seek justice. Our skilled legal team is proud to provide our clients with the dedicated representation they deserve. Schedule a free case evaluation here or call (888) 465-8790.
