The rise of piracy on social media platforms is one of the most significant challenges online today. As streaming services become less desirable in the eyes of some users, unauthorized sharing through social networks has emerged as a persistent threat to creators and legitimate distributors. Data from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) indicates that nearly 66% of all online piracy complaints involve Facebook. Coupled with the fact that Facebook’s parent company, Meta, reports that 77.9% of all copyright-related removals — totaling nearly 10 million pieces of content in the latter half of 2020 alone — were done proactively before a claim is even filed, the scale of the problem is staggering.
Copyright violations on social media affect everyone, from major studios to local artists. What’s worse, illegally shared content can be hard to spot, putting even upstanding users at risk of malicious software and legal consequences.
How Social Media Leads to Piracy
Social media platforms are perfect for sharing personal life moments through photos and videos, but these same features can be misused to distribute copyrighted material illegally. Understanding how these platforms contribute to piracy is essential to effectively addressing the problem.
Ease of Sharing
Social media platforms are designed to make sharing content as simple as possible. With just a few clicks, users can distribute files, links, or streaming information to hundreds or thousands of followers. Since each follower has a circle of their own, pirated content can spread rapidly. On average, social media users in 2018 consumed 300 feet of content feed every day, and we at StreamSafely suspect that number has only grown. From direct messages, stories, and group posts, there’s a lot of feed to be seen and shared — and ample opportunity for misuse.
Private Groups and Forums
The privacy features of social media platforms have inadvertently created safe havens for sharing pirated content. Private groups and closed forums serve as gathering places where users exchange links to unauthorized streams and downloads. These spaces are particularly challenging to monitor because they operate behind privacy settings that hide their activities from public view. The largest Facebook groups easily number in the millions of followers, many of which are directly related to entertainment, including WWE Monday Night RAW and Netflix Recommendations.
Virality and Reach
The viral nature of social media amplifies the spread of pirated content exponentially. As mentioned above, when users share unauthorized materials, the content can quickly reach thousands or even millions of viewers through shares, reposts, and even the site’s own algorithm recommendations. Simply put, once pirated material begins circulating, it becomes incredibly hard to stop.
Influencer and User-Generated Content
Social media influencers and content creators sometimes unknowingly or deliberately promote things they shouldn’t. While the problem is especially bad for promoting counterfeit products, it can extend to touting pirated content and praising known piracy websites as well.
Influencers’ large followings and perceived authority can legitimize piracy in the eyes of their audience. When they share methods to access unauthorized content, their recommendations can end up normalizing this bad behavior.
Common Types of Pirated Content Shared on Social Media
There’s virtually no limit to what can be shared online, which is great for connectivity and community-building, but bad when it comes to piracy. Unless something is done, the variety and quantity of pirated content shared through social media platforms may only continue to expand.
- Movies and TV Shows: Users frequently share links to unauthorized streaming sites or downloads containing the latest releases and popular series. This includes prerelease content and episodes that haven’t even aired in certain regions.
- Music: Unauthorized recordings of songs, albums, and live performances can circulate social media widely, often through direct file sharing or links to unofficial downloads. In 2022, MUSO recorded over 15 billion visits to illegal music piracy sites, some of which undoubtedly originated from links shared on social media.
- Software and Games: Cracked versions of expensive software and video games can spread through social media channels, often disguised as legitimate, free versions. Currently, China, Russia, and the United States lead the world in software piracy, according to the software development consulting firm Revenera.
- Sports Events and Live Streaming: Real-time sharing of popular sports leagues, pay-per-view content, and live events via unauthorized streams has become increasingly common on social platforms like Twitch.
Why People Use Social Media for Piracy
With over 5.22 billion users globally, social media platforms are vast hubs for networking and connectivity. Their sheer popularity and potential reach make them perfect places to spread pirated content in massive quantities and across borders where geo-restrictions may otherwise prevent viewers from accessing content. Bad actors can also take advantage of:
- Like-Minded Communities: Groups, forums, and chats all allow users to find like-minded communities of unashamed or unwilling digital pirates who share information, links, and access to copyrighted content. These groups create a positive feedback cycle or echo chamber, ultimately, reinforcing their mindset and behavior.
- Anonymity: Social media accounts can be created with minimal personal information, which provides some users a sense of protection from being caught. However, although verification badges exist, it’s unlikely that bad actors or those seeking out illegally distributed content will care much about authenticity or credentials.
- Free and Easy Access: Most social media platforms, like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X, are free and easy to join. This accessibility makes these platforms all the more appealing.
Risks Involved With Spreading Pirated Content
Legal Risks
Sharing pirated content through social media carries significant legal consequences:
- Criminal Charges: Distribution of copyrighted material can result in severe legal punishments, including substantial fines and potential imprisonment. Even relatively minor infractions can result in one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
- Civil Lawsuits: Content owners actively monitor social media for copyright violations and may pursue civil litigation against individuals sharing their intellectual property. At the very least, perpetrators can expect to be on the receiving end of DMCA takedown requests, which can ruin their reputation and the perceived value of their content.
Platform Risks
Social media platforms implement various penalties for users who share pirated content:
- Content Removal: Social media platforms aggressively investigate and remove content that raises suspicions of media piracy or copyright infringement. As we said, this can damage the user’s reputation and ultimately result in a loss of followers and revenue.
- Account Suspension: In severe cases or with respect to repeat offenders, platforms may suspend or permanently ban accounts found sharing unauthorized or illegal content. These suspensions can be effective immediately and issued without warning, potentially causing users to lose years of networking, branding, and followers.
Security Risks
Engaging with pirated content exposes users to numerous security threats, including:
- Phishing: Unauthorized streaming sites frequently harvest personal information and financial data from visitors. Once they obtain a phone number or email address, they may contact the user posing as another entity in order to get access to more valuable information like bank account numbers or social security information.
- Malware: Links to pirated content can contain malicious software that corrupts the user’s device or extracts sensitive personal data or financial information. According to Variety, 37% of people who pirate content end up with malware on their devices.
- Data Theft: If a phishing attempt is successful, the stolen information can be either used or sold, leading to identity theft, financial fraud, and long-term personal security risks. Victims may face months or even years of dealing with the fallout. In 2023 alone, identity fraud cost Americans $43 billion.
The Responsibilities of Social Media Platforms
Social media companies like Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok all have extensive intellectual property policies to inform users of copyright laws and things that could be construed as content piracy. Needless to say, these policies are strictly enforced.
Most social media platforms employ algorithms to identify and remove unauthorized content automatically. These systems analyze uploaded images, videos, and music files against databases of known copyrighted materials, helping to prevent further distribution. Social media platforms can also leverage machine learning technologies like those rolled out by VTF Solutions to detect and shut down illegal live streams.
Additionally, social media companies maintain reporting systems that allow rights holders and users alike to flag unauthorized content for removal. Fraud can also be reported directly to the Federal Trade Commission or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
The Responsibilities of Users
While it’s important for social media companies to police what is being shared on their platform, users themselves can adjust their behavior to help nip the problem in the bud. Make sure that all video content you consume is through legitimate sources and official social media accounts. Many copycats will be unverified or have spelling errors in their user handles. Never click on links from profiles you don’t recognize and trust. If you can’t tell whether or not a link is legitimate, you can enter the URL into Google’s Safe Browsing search function to see if it’s safe.
Understanding how to identify illegal streaming websites and avoiding them helps protect both you as a user and content creators. Supporting legitimate streaming services gives content creators the compensation they deserve, which allows them to continue producing high-quality content.
Social media users can contribute to reducing piracy by joining StreamSafley in promoting legal alternatives and educating others about the risks of unauthorized content. The historical evolution of digital piracy shows that consumer behavior can significantly impact the shape of the entertainment industry — for better or for worse. Let’s do what we can to create an online space that is free from internet piracy and supports artists and creators.
How StreamSafely Can Help You Avoid Piracy
We at StreamSafely provide comprehensive resources and cybersecurity best practices to help users like you navigate digital entertainment responsibly. Our platform offers detailed guides on finding legitimate content sources and understanding the implications of digital piracy. To that end, we’ve compiled data on the prevalence and impact of piracy and let the numbers speak for themselves.
While the reality may be daunting, we at StreamSafely know that together we can help turn the trend around. The future of streaming and digital entertainment depends on making informed choices about how we consume and share content on social media. Remember that every decision to choose legitimate sources over pirated content supports the creation of more high-quality entertainment for all of us to enjoy!
