Regulate social Media! Should we do it?Regulate social Media! Should we do it?
#LIUSMS
You waited for months to purchase tickets to see your favorite comedian. You pick up your tickets and now it’s showtime. You go to the show, find your seat, maybe order a drink and wait for the show to start. The lights go dim, the comedian walks out on the stage, stands there and tells his/her first joke, “WOW…I was scared to come here tonight because of a certain race”. You laugh, actually everyone laughs, because everyone gets the joke. After a night of insults, the show finishes then you go home thinking, “it was money well spent.”
A week later you’re on social media and noticed that a co-worker posted something and to your dismay, you see that the co-worker’s comments are about how everyone is “over privileged” and says, “everyone is out to get me.” The comment is clearly attacking not just toward you but toward a group of people that you work with.
Can you see the similarity?
When a comedian insults a crowd of people opposed to making someone believe the insult is directed towards them personally, for whatever reason, the insult is received differently!
Now, you know you’re furious and immediately think how this is a false depiction of who you are. You get online and share her posts.
Then your other co-workers weigh in with their interpretations and, of course, each comment varies. They start posting and reposting dislikes, frustrations and other angry thoughts, that goes on and on and on…
If society can accept one insult, why not the other? And if there are limited ways to regulate a person’s response, and even more no real way to instill good social behavior, how do you control when it goes overboard? Social media has become a huge part of the world and the things said or shared on social media has made random people become the judge and executioner on statements. Is there a way to stop this? Does it begin with us as individuals? I think Yes.
First… At this time in age everyone knows that putting something on social media and wanting it to be discreet is a very far fetched idea. It takes one click of a button then it’s gone and out in the eclipse of the world wide web. Not to mention the different types of hackers that are out there out there just trying to get information.
So as a first step and RULE #1, if you as the poster would just take the time to read what you want to post and “THINK” could this be offensive to anyone or could someone take this in the wrong way, then maybe tell yourself “I shouldn’t post this”.
Second…Readers, if you read something that is hurtful RULE #2 “THINK” I don’t know this person so how could I take it so personally! Even if you have some form of acquaintance with the commenter it still isn’t personal enough to find yourself in legal trouble. Now, I definitely do not support hateful or violent things being said on social media, as I’m sure that it hurts people, however we all have a choice.
I was in the military for 10 Years, and within the military there are rules. Not to take away from our freedoms but just to ensure that no lines are crossed with the military being such a diverse organization.
The world is the biggest Diverse Organization but there definitely needs to be rules and regulations in place pertaining to Social Media. Having access to the world and it being a mere click of a mouse button can be viewed as a gift and a curse but if unmonitored it’s influence can be fatal.
These rules should not be a way to limit or restrict free speech. But to regulate how thoughts are being conveyed. Like…No disparaging terms are allowed in any form including slang words. This could have a big effect on the politeness and courtesy of speech. Next if there were stricter punishments for violations on social media. People would really think twice about not thinking before they post. Any group that promotes hate or social bullying should be removed and penalized.
RULE #3 Before a post can go viral, any group that promotes hate or social bullying should be removed and penalized.
Although we live in an imperfect world and there are things that we as individuals or group may not be able to control but given the powerful influence social media has, I say, civility on social media begins with reinforcing good social habits.