Although they have brought about many benefits, allowing us to easily connect friends and family around globe, allowing us to beyond international borders and cultural barriers, social media have come at a price. Social media have also negative impact on our lives: They are robbing us off trust and comfort we once placed in one another, replacing the human fellowship, physical and emotional support, we once drew from each other, with virtual connection. They rob us off from self-control and from the ability to think independently. Instead, they make us gullible to join any group that posts perverse messages that tickle our ear and amuse our senses without evaluating the consequences. Ironically, social media is in effect turning us into non-social generations. We prefer texting to phone conversations, online chat to a face-to-face meeting, and many have replaced human interaction with convenient platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp.
Jonathan Safran Foer in his article, How Not to Be Alone, said: “Each step forward in social media has made it easier, just a little, to avoid the emotional work of being present, to convey information rather than humanity.” With each passing day, these words ring truer and truer. Even though it is not the objective of this class to present the negative impacts of social media, we just see them in three main categories.
First, social media fosters a false sense of online 'connections' and superficial friendships leading to emotional and psychological problems.
The Second harm of social media is that it can become easily addictive, taking away family and personal time as well as diminish interpersonal skills, leading to antisocial and non-social behavior.
Lastly, social media has become a tool for criminals, predators and terrorists enabling them to commit illegal acts. Researchers also find a link between the psychological problems caused by social media and criminal activities committed.
Social Media Etiquette (NETIQUETTE)
As social media are the primary ways people communicate in the modern world on a daily basis, typical social rules are finding their way into digital environments too. Just as social etiquette dictates how people behave around others in the real world, social media etiquette revolves around online guidelines to follow.
1. Respect Value of Privacy
Privacy or the right to enjoy freedom from unauthorized intrusion is a fundamental right of all. Art. 21 of the Constitution of India states: “No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law”. The right to privacy is considered to be a part of right to protection of life and personal liberty. Privacy is defined as the right to be left alone, to be free from secret surveillance, or unwanted disclosure of personal data or information by government, or individual or any other agency.
The Economist, in 2017 May, published a story titled “The world’s most valuable resource is no longer oil, but data”. Since its publication, the topic has generated a great deal of discussion, the new oil” has become a common refrain. The perpetrator uses identification information stored on social media to access their social media page which could lead to access to their contacts, friends and friends of their ‘friends’ then participate in illegal activities and engage in anti-social activities such as hacking, spreading viruses, fraud and identity theft. One must respect the privacy of others, even friends.
2. Be Authentic and Truthful
You should always communicate in an honest and open manner. If you show others who you are and what you stand for truthfully, people will respect and will establish good rapport. Truth is an ethical value that other people respect. They, in turn, will want to be truthful with you also. Remember always ‘who you are’ and don’t hide your identity. In a research article published in Psychology Today, C. S. Warren evaluates that people tend to lie on social media. She observes that what people post on social media is not an accurate representation of their lives or who they are. In her study examining 2,000 people, 43% of users admitted lying about themselves and their lives online. Consequently, when engaging with social media, it is critical to remind yourself that what you see is not an accurate picture of reality.
3. Beware of Fake News feeds
When looking at what constitutes ‘fake news’ and how it gets shared on social media, there are two kinds of false information to be aware of - misinformation and disinformation. Because social media is a public platform, anyone can post anything without being accountable for fact-checking. It is left to the users to distinguish information v/s misinformation and disinformation in their feeds. Misinformation refers to inaccurate reporting that stems from inaccuracies; as such, the term does not imply an intent to deceive. Disinformation, on the other hand refers to the intentional spread of inaccurate information with the intent to deceive. Fake news on social media may be unavoidable. But you can help stop the spread by thinking critically.
4. Think Twice and Take a Deep Breath Before You Post
In case you find yourself in a heated exchange of ideas with other users, always remember to be respectful. Make sure your statements are based on hard facts. Also, avoid attacking the person personally and never resort to threats as this can be lawfully punished. Consider these questions to check the fact before sharing something on social media: Is it True?.. How do you know? Is it Helpful? Is it just for likes? Is it Inspiring? Will it motivate or encourage others? Is it Necessary?... Does it need to be said on Social Media now or is it just for likes? Is it Kind?... Would you feel good reading it or can it hurt some?
5. Shun Hate Speech
Social media are merely a reflection of society. Polarizing content and hateful material on social media have proliferated in the recent past and today social media are a hotbed of toxic and hateful conversations. Curbing hate speech has emerged as a critical challenge for societies globally. Hate content are primarily related to a person’s caste, gender or religion, which are sensitive topics for most of us.
6. Eschew Cyber Bullying
Cyberbullying (cyber-harassment) are forms of harassment using social media, which has become increasingly common, as the digital sphere has expanded and technology has advanced. Cyberbullying is when someone bullies or harasses others on social media sites. Harmful bullying can include posting rumors, threats, sexual remarks, a victims’ personal information, or pejorative labels. Gossip can be mean, especially when it is online. Bullies can build on gossip and create stories and ugliness about someone that can go viral in seconds. This can be very traumatizing to vulnerable people. Be careful what you put out into cyberspace and always check the sources of what you see or read. Celebrities and politicians are easy targets for internet gossip.
7. Beware of Cyber Scams
Cyber scam is a type of cybercrime fraud or deception which makes use of the social media and could involve hiding of information or providing incorrect information for the purpose of tricking victims out of money, property, and inheritance. Cyber scam is not considered a single, distinctive crime but covers a range of illegal and illicit actions that are committed in cyberspace. It is, however, differentiated from theft since, in this case, the victim voluntarily and knowingly provides the information, money or property to the perpetrator. For example, the sender, generally through social media or email, requests help in facilitating the transfer of a substantial sum of money. In return, the sender offers a commission, usually in the range of several million dollars. The scammers then request that money be sent to pay for some of the costs associated with the transfer. Once money is sent to the scammers, they will either disappear immediately or try to get more money with claims of continued problems with the transfer.
8. Respect other People
Respect other people, and yourself, by taking a moment to consider what most irks you on your feeds and timelines. If you wouldn’t want to see it, don’t post it. If you think it’s rude for people to share their unsolicited opinions, do everyone a favor and withhold your own. When you write something or post something, always keep your audience in mind. It is also important to respect the opinions of other netizens. Accept the fact that not everyone has the same opinion as you do. However reasonable you believe your arguments to be, you won’t be able to convince everyone. Keep this in mind when you comment, post, or share anything on social media. It is also important to Understand that your sense of humor isn’t universal.
9. Be Concise and Clear in Writing
Whatever you write or post in social media, wordy writing dilutes the impact of your message. Writing clear and concise content, instead can help you gain and keep your readers’ attention. It is also likely to be more memorable and make a lasting impact on your reader. Writing in clear and correct language is also important.
10. Don’t Spam
Spam are irrelevant or unsolicited messages sent over the social media. These are usually sent to a large number of users for a variety of use cases such as advertising, phishing, spreading malware, etc. Be careful in forwarding too much messages; send useful messages only!
11. Give Due Credit to your Sources
Social media are wonderful places to share your work but be sure to ask permission and cite your sources when you use material or content from others. People who plagiarize do not even realize they do it. Be respectful to the authors of your sources. Always give credit where it is due.
12. Manage your Social Media Time Properly
To manage your time wisely on social media, you need to have a good grasp on ‘why you are using them’, develop a strategy to keep you focused, and utilize a growing number of tools that will help you maximize your effort. One of the reasons for screen addiction (Screen Dependency Disorder) is the lack of time management in social media. SDD’ is a term increasingly used to describe the growing number of children engaging in a variety of different screen activities in a dependent; problematic manner.
Finally
Social media has tremendous power, so it is important to follow proper etiquette when you engage with other users. From avoiding extensive self-promotion, to maintaining a respectful sense of humor, most best practices are simply a high-tech version of old-school etiquette. But the social media world moves far faster than the offline world, so it is critical to think about the effects your words, pictures, and videos have before sharing them with hundreds or thousands of your peers. Digital denizens are not always quick to forgive.
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