The ‘Weaponization’ of Social Media
Let’s talk about the dark side
The bright and positive side of social media is widely noted, but there exists a dark side that more people ought to be discussing. The advancement of technology and the evolution of social media platforms has disrupted our lives in more ways than we can imagine.
Last week I watched the docudrama The Social Dilemma on Netflix, which basically talks about the iron grip of social media in our lives. The documentary explores all the ways in which social media platforms like Facebook capitalize on its users, that’s all of us!
Not like we had enough problems in 2020 already, now we also have to think about what we post and search for on social media.
It is safe to say that we have all prisoners to social media. Today, social media is not only dictating our life and thoughts online but also offline. Till now, social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter were where I went for my daily dose of news, but a LOT has changed in the last few years!
Let’s Delve Deeper
The controversial interview of Mark Zuckerberg with Kara Swisher was definitely an eye-opener. The Facebook CEO sparked controversy for his comments that even though he is Jewish himself, he wouldn’t take down anti-semitic posts on the platform, labeling it as ‘freedom of speech’. The Tech giant’s tolerance of hate groups and racist posts on the platform makes me shake my head and wonder- Is this what the world has come to?
The prioritization of ‘free expression’ over values like non-discrimination and equality is deeply disturbing, to say the least, and neither Zuckerberg nor Facebook continue to take responsibility for the mental harm that has caused. Social media is now weaponized, and we all are paying the price.
Scott Galloway’s interview with Sinan Aral, author of The Hype Machine: How Social Media Disrupts Our Elections, Our Economy, And Our Health — And How We Must Adapt, talk a little more about how social media is on the path of destroying democracy and humanity as we know it.
It talks about how social media can sometimes be a carrier of misleading information. As we edge closer to Presidential Elections 2020, digital platforms like Facebook and Twitter continue to be infiltrated by bots and foreign hackers. It’s scary to think that the decision of who runs the USA for the coming years could be dictated by anonymous bots on the internet??? This is the power that social media now has on us.
Final Thoughts
Like Sinan Aral says in his interview with Scott, “there is tremendous promise in social media but also the potential for tremendous peril.”
Social conversations continue to shape everything, from culture to media, our interests, and our most intimate thoughts. As we continue to navigate in this new COVID-19 landscape, where digital media is only growing increasingly important, it is crucial to re-think our approach towards it and be more reflective to reduce the spread of fake news. Let’s not overlook the positive impact social media has had us, for I cannot imagine a life without it anymore. Let’s pledge to be more aware and cautious!
