Can I Sue Someone for Defamation on Social Media?

Yes, a defamatory post, comment, or review on social media can be grounds for a civil claim in Singapore, provided it was published to at least one other person and caused, or was likely to cause, serious harm to your reputation. Courts will look at the reach of the post, whether it was shared or went viral, and whether defences such as truth or fair comment apply. Preserving evidence, such as screenshots with timestamps, is critical before the content is deleted. Three elements are required to establish that, more likely than not, defamation has occurred: (i) the defendant must have published the material to a third party; (ii) the material must refer to the plaintiff; and (iii) the material must be defamatory (i.e., damages the plaintiff's reputation or standing in society).