Social Media’s Evil Twin
Sharing and History:
Before the most recent web design was created, Web 1.0 was available for research purposes, as well as sharing and publishing new discoveries and educational documents. Eventually, when the number of internet users began to boom, entrepreneurs began to commercialise the internet. This boom of the internet led to a more enhanced version of Web 1.0, called Web 2.0. Web 2.0 was created to make sharing content easy for all users whether that content was scientific or not.
Many social media activists like to get the most out of a platform; more followers, more likes, and more friends. In 2010, Mark Zuckerberg (co-founding and leading Facebook as its chairman and chief executive officer) stated that when people have control over what they share, then they are encouraged to share more, making the world more connected. Moreover, these platforms are built in a way that makes it hard for people to leave. When people deactivate their accounts on social media platforms, it is as if they are ending their relationship with every friend/follower they have. Therefore, leaving a social media platform will make a person feel left out. All in all, because people do not want to feel left out, they are most probably going to stay active on social media and sharing their experiences. Furthermore, Esel, a social media user, believes that sharing on social media platforms “brings the world closer” simplifying communication which in turn makes acquiring social capital easier.
Benefits:
The rise of Web 2.0 allowed firms to commercialize the internet, in which they were able to influence or align with people’s perspectives. One of the founding members of Facebook, Hughes, had a vision about social networks, he saw that it was an opportunity for users to share information easily and efficiently. That is why social media platforms act as a middleman between advertisers and consumers. Furthermore, Jessica Litman states (expert on copyright law) that posting new information on the internet is sharing, and reading the posted information is learning.
Benefits and Social Capital:
Social capital is any advantage that is gained from society and the added communication among one’s social circle. Social media platforms are positioned strategically in a way that influences economic, social, political, and cultural views. The more social media aligns with the way that people think, then the more influence they have on people (followers) and thus more social capital. Therefore, companies can see what most people post and with this information can analyze the trends in the market. So, companies make posts depending on these trends appealing to the population of social media users and thus acquiring more effective results. Collecting data from these platforms helps increase the company’s overall revenue. Since firms identified their audience, then they have the ability to respond to their demand and satisfy their needs and wants. In general, sharing information online widens one’s connections, which automatically means more opportunities and thus increasing the probability to achieve a certain objective.
Even though people may neglect the presence of power, power asymmetries exists. It is when a group of people benefits at the expense of others. Consequently, Wael Ghonim (Internet activist) argued that the use of social media platforms leads to revolutions, so when tensions began to rise in the Arab region in 2011, people shared their thoughts on Facebook and Twitter bringing out a variety of protests.
Terms and Conditions:
Any website or social media platform owner sets the terms and conditions that are to be followed by the users who are obliged to agree to before joining the platform or website. One of Facebook and Google’s promises is that a user’s private information will never be “sold” because this information solely belongs to the user. According to the terms of social media platforms, stealing and copying are very delicate matters that should not be toyed with. Stealing is taking other people’s information by force and claiming it as one’s own. Whereas copying is neglecting copyright rules where one’s information is duplicated and spread by another user, thus the creator of that information will be losing value. Breaking property and ownership rights are considered as criminal activities, these terms and conditions are meant to protect the user’s right of the information that they share.
Social Media’s Exploitation:
Ever since the industrial revolution, control has been an ongoing concern. The evolution of digital computers is a response to the need of increased control. Social media can be viewed as both exploiting and empowering since the user has control over what he/she posts and what he/she clicks on, but the user’s information and creative labor is constantly monitored and commodified by companies.
Social media platforms has control over your information, therefore control over you. So, whenever you access the internet or computer, your activities are being recorded by multiple sources; therefore your information is never private. Hence, social media providers should be coherent with what their terms and conditions mention about sharing of people’s private information. A person has ownership over his/her’s personal information, and it should be shared or sold by companies only upon the person’s consent.
