Johnson, who previously served as cybersecurity counsel at ByteDance/TikTok USDS, identifies a critical gap between the speed of viral spread and organizations' capacity to respond. A single viral post typically exists as dozens of copies and reposts across platforms at once, complicating removal efforts and making traditional cease-and-desist approaches potentially counterproductive.
Attorneys should recognize social media crisis management as an emerging practice area reflecting genuine reputational risk in the digital age. Johnson advocates for proactive preparation—tabletop exercises, designated response teams, and clear decision-making frameworks—rather than reactive legal letters that can escalate situations. Organizations without such protocols face compounding exposure as viral content multiplies across platforms faster than removal efforts can contain it.