Less Reaction and More Action Against Social Media
Are we truly aware of the dangers of social media? My personal opinion is, as much informed we believe we are, our minds will never comprehend how much these platforms can physically and psychologically affect somebody. As time pass, the world has been facing social media negative effects such as depression, anxiety, loneliness, and suicidal thoughts. And we have come to face the ugly truth of social media hurting and affecting us all. So, why are we waiting for this negative consequence list increase or the number of cases risen and not taking action? Well, taking action is the true dilemma.
I have to agree with my University professor Scott Galloway and Sinan Aral that the solution is not destroying Facebook or even banning social media. Given the fact that this will only tip the next Facebook or tech company into market dominance, not solving the Network effect problem. Of course, raising awareness of the dangers of social media as most as we can through documentary and media, is the best thing to do. However, I believe that just providing this information isn’t enough. There should be a greater incentive to change and to solve these problems. Taking action towards what disrupts or interferes with a good society should face consequences, otherwise, it will never stop.
Who has the power today?
After hearing The Prof. G Show podcast last week, “5G, Disney+, and All Things Social Media”, I came to realize there’s a real solution to this problem, Data portability. It was my first time hearing this term, yet, it makes sense and excites me the fact that there’s hope with this law already in process of approval. It made me realize we are autodestructing and hurting ourselves by giving these big tech companies the key to our happiness. Let’s think about it, have we given them the chance to take care of society and well being in the past? Yes, we have, but as Kara Swisher said in her last week’s column for New York times, “Mr. Zuckerberg’s realization of all the ways that social media can hurt us continues to be painfully slow”. And I would like to emphasize the word “slow” because we should stop giving them the power for “slow” and demand “fast”.
Seeking change
Data portability is enabling communication from one digital platform to another (meaning, communicating from one Facebook account to Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok, others). By not being locked in a particular social media and having this freedom in our hands will force them to provide us user interface, privacy protocols, security, and push them to compete in those dimensions, in which they currently don’t. Why don’t they offer us these benefits at this stage? Well, because they put the conditions and if we don’t like them, we don’t have more options than leave. With Data portability, we will have the option of leaving if we feel like; having the power over them and not the other way around. All, hopefully, to become more like the subscription-based platforms and leaving aside the complications of ad-based.
Who should have the power?
In short, the truth is that we should have power. At the end of the day, we are social media products. They sell our attention on their different platforms to their brands or clients. So, what we need today, is more laws like this, to protect us and improve the way we use social media to realign their original goal that was: connecting people and all about radiating happiness.
