A lot of people think that they can say whatever they want on social networking sites without consequences. However, every Twitter user must be aware of these rules.
Abusive Messages
Twitter has become a convenient place for fans to send abusive messages to athletes of their favourite teams or other teams. However, this can get you into a lot of trouble. You can be arrested or ordered to pay a fine if you send racial or threatening comments to athletes or any person on Twitter.
Encouraging Illegal Activity
This was a big problem during the riots of 2011 in England. Many users tweeted about the riots and encouraged people to go out in the streets and cause trouble.
According to the law, you are not allowed to encourage others to commit an illegal act. Police arrested two men in England in 2011 for encouraging criminal activity even though they did not physically take part in the riots.
Menacing Comments
Even if it is a joke, you cannot say things on Twitter that seem threatening.
One user, Paul Chambers of England, jokingly said that he would blow up an airport because it remained closed for a long time. Police considered his tweet to be an act of terrorism and Mr Chambers had to pay a fine of £385 and £600 in court fees.
Libel
In 2011, New Zealand cricket player Chris Cairns received £90,000 after a coach had accused him of match-fixing. Twitter and other social network sites are published the same way as a newspaper, so you must remember that you cannot make any defamatory comment about a person if it is untrue or unproven.