Viet Nam Human Rights
Is social media really good for society?
13/9/16
Is there anyone who does not use social media? If
you are like most people, you already use at least one social media platform
from Facebook, Twitter, Skype, YouTube etc, but you may still have some
questions about social networking. Is social media helping or hindering your
life? Is it safe? Can it really increase productivity and build brand awareness,
and even promoting human rights and democracy like activists always say - or is
it simply a place to waste a considerable amount of time?
People everywhere are becoming so
indulged and engaged on the online world that is also known as social media.
Social media is a way of communicating in which users obtain immediate
information and are constantly bombarded. All the information that anyone needs
can be obtained or seen on social networking. Also, social media is a way of
connecting people with their friends and family by making posts online about
what they are doing or how they are feeling. People can make friends or follow
each other in order to stay updated and connected. Social media negatively
impacts Vietnam today because it can ruin interpersonal skills, spread false
information that may harm national security, disseminate personal information, and
negatively impact the futures of the users.
First of all, social networking sites can stunt
face-to-face communication. The number of people on their phones rather than
communicating in person has grown in the past 10 years. This shows that social
media is harmful towards society and people are becoming indolent. People
are more into their technology than actual people around them.
Along with people being so focused on social
media, the kids on there are being harmed by being cyber bullied. The bullying
that takes place on the internet is not like school yard bullying but it harms
kids psychologically instead of physically. You can see many pitiful incidents,
even deaths, happened due to cyber bullying (like posting insulting
information, nude images…). Not only can adults be harassed or falsely
identified, but children can be as well. The presence of cyber bullying on
social networking sites is harmful to society.
Furthermore, social media allows false
information to be spread through the internet. It only takes one person to
create an internet post that becomes viral. Posts with biased,
emotion-provoking content are more likely to be re-posted or shared than those
containing neutral information. Social media revolves around many
peoples’ egoistic nature. The desire to be the center of attention is
fulfilled when one’s thoughts and ideas are gratified. Some people will do or
say anything in order to have their ideas redeemed by their peers. People will
post things that are not true or supported by facts because they want
attention. Unfortunately, many people tend to believe everything they see
on the internet. Even stories that are mostly false are spread because they are
often more exciting than the truth. Stories on social media are often
exaggerated, causing widespread hysteria. False information is released about
popular current events, which has often resulted in nationwide panic, such as
mass fish death in central provinces in recent months. And what happen
next are mostly bad for society and the country’s security.
Social media has opened up the possibility of
identity theft, data theft, cyber fraud, hacking and virus attacks. You are
left with no privacy if you have updated your address, phone number, work
place, information about your family on any of the social media sites. We
generally add our pictures of day to day life on Facebook. One has to be very
cautious while doing so as the pictures and other information can be misused by
the bad elements of the society.
One has to be very careful while using social
media because it may put you in danger and odd situation. Two girls in Mumbai
were arrested for putting a question on Facebook regarding the shutdown in the
city for Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray’s funeral. The girls were sent to
14-day judicial custody but granted bail after furnishing personal bonds.
Air India cabin crew members Mayank Mohan Sharma
and KVJ Rao were arrested for sharing rude jokes about politicians, making
derogatory comments against PM and disrespecting national flag in comments.
Not only in India but such examples are available
all across the world. Jake Newsome was jailed for six weeks for Facebook
comments he made about murdered school teacher in West Yorkshire.
The future of Vietnam could be jeopardized
because of what they say on social media. People in Vietnam have become so
indulged in social media, that they do not even realize what they are posting
online and how it will impact their futures.
Social media was created to help people maintain
connections, network, and obtain information. Recently, almost everybody
has at least one account on a social networking website. Even people that have
little desire to see the thoughts and opinions of hundreds of “friends” find
themselves creating accounts. This is because nobody wants to be left behind in
our fast-paced, advancing world of technology. But, we must consider carefully
before using it due to social media’s disadvantages above.
Social media can be a great tool if used
correctly, but more often than not, people misuse and abuse it. Not only is
social media often abused and misused, but it has a gained a blind following.
Many social media users today cannot prove why social media is helpful or
beneficial. Instead, those who support social media want an explanation as to why
social media is bad, shifting the burden of proof to the opposers of
the incessant use of social media. The negative effects of social
media outweigh the positive.
In conclusion, social
media is, and will continue to be, harmful, unless something is done about it.
The power it has over people is dangerous and often goes unnoticed. People
should care because if not addressed, or taken care, of social media could
cause national and international problems. Social media stunts interpersonal
growth and increases narcissism in many internet users, and as a
result, it will harm human rights and democracy. Even if the user is not
psychologically affected by social media, they are still in danger. Nobody is
immune to the harmful side effects social media including identity theft,
stalkers, or hackers. Social networking allows hoaxes and false information to
cause widespread chaos. “The dark side of social media is that, within seconds,
anything can be blown out of proportion and taken out of context. And it is very
difficult not to get swept up in it all”. If there are no regulations or
limitations on social media, the repercussions will accumulate. People
need to change the destructive patterns of social media use before it destroys
society. The fast, easy access to information that is supposed to be beneficial
to society is actually detrimental to society. In order to prevent it you have
to limit your time on social media like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc. Take
out time to relax and go out. Do understand that Internet is not just about
social media. It is a store house of information so use it wisely./.
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All comments [ 10 ]
The "passive consumption" of social media is related to loneliness rather than being genial and social. 47% of 18-35 year olds were reported using social media or texting during meals instead of actually communicating with family or friends in place of the meal.
Cyberbullying does not only happen to kids, many of the same kinds of cases happen to adults as well as kids. In some cases kids have made fake profiles just to blackmail others. Some people even impersonate someone on a social media site saying rude things.
Social media sites open users to intrusion from the government, corporations, hackers, and identity thieves, as well as, potentially introducing users to viruses.
Many identity thieves have found that information users have set to “public” is useful to gain access to accounts as some of this data is often used in security questions and passwords.
The use of social media impacts people’s future in different ways, in addition to future job opportunities.
Social media allows you to interact with your community no matter where you are or who you are with. According to social media supporters, connecting with your community via the internet makes you less lonely.
In an age where selfies are the norm, the over-sharing may even be altering our worldview by creating a more narcistic mindset.
Use of social networks may expose individuals to other forms of harassment or even inappropriate contact. This can be especially true for teens and younger children.
Whether you like it or not, the information you post on the Internet is available to almost anyone who is clever enough to access it.
Social networking invites major corporations to invade your privacy and sell your personal information.
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