Your Instagram Bio Can Get You Sued
DB
No, this isn’t a joke.
We're in an era where your first impression isn’t your pitch deck. It’s your Instagram bio. One line, maybe seven words, and people already decide if they trust your business.
That’s fine until that one-liner becomes legally binding.
Let’s say your bio says this:
- "Next-day delivery across the UK"
- "100 percent refund guaranteed"
- "Always ethically made"
It sounds good. But here’s the problem. That’s a public statement. And in the eyes of the law, it can become a promise. If someone relies on it and you don’t deliver, you could be held liable.
What does the law actually say?
If you write something that influences someone’s decision to buy or engage with your service, it can be treated as a term of the contract. It doesn’t matter that it was on Instagram. If the customer can show they relied on what you said, you could face claims under misrepresentation, breach of contract, or consumer protection laws.
Even if it was just a sentence in your bio.
Your DMs aren’t private either.
Say you tell someone in a message, “We always deliver next day.” If they pay you based on that and you miss the deadline, they can use that message in court. It can become part of the contract. Informal language doesn’t mean informal consequences.
So what should you do?
(A) Don’t write blanket promises you can’t keep
(B) Link to proper terms and conditions
(C) Be specific. “Next-day dispatch Mon to Thurs” is safer than “Next-day delivery”
(D) Make sure your team knows this too. If your intern handles your socials, you’re still responsible
Final point
This isn’t about killing your brand voice. It’s about protecting yourself. Say what you want, but say it right. Your vibe can stay strong, but your words need to hold up in court if it ever comes to that.
If someone screenshotted your bio and brought it to a judge, would you be confident standing behind it?
If not, change it.