Monday, May 23, 2011

Social Media and Solicitors

How much more proof does anyone need about the power of Social Media? It has an ability to fuel rebellions, topple governments and now revoke superinjunctions handed down by UK judges.

What is not a surprise is that out-of-touch Judges can try to suppress any form of media, old or new. However, what is far more of a shock is the obvious lack of insight about such matters that was displayed by specialist legal company Schillings, the company that recommend that Ryan Giggs chase after Twitter this week. They advised the philandering father to go after the Californian-based social networking site to find out the details of those who posted information about the footballer’s “off the ball” antics.

Are they not aware of the so-called Streisand effect; where those who attempt to hide or remove items online about themselves only make matters worse?

2 comments:

Alan_Lodge said...

Was the attack on Twitter the Schillings advice, or an option that they were instructed to pursue by their rich and emotional client?

Though it might bring a bit more work to the lawyers anyway, so it can't be all bad.

Hayden Sutherland said...

Alan

Thanks for the comment.

Recent estimations put Ryan Gigg's legal bill at somewhere around £200k already, so it may be the case that he lost all perspective and decided to push forward with the Twitter action anyway.

However, Schillings is known not just for its legal action to combat the negative, but for its PR work to try to spin the positive at the same time. With PR and Social Media now intertwined, large legal companies such as this must surely get more savvy about things or lose business very quickly.