Angelo Simone
4/20/14
Blog #4
The Darker Side of New Media
New
media has affected society and individuals so profoundly that it can be
compared to the invention of the internet. New media has changed the way we
communicate to one another and how we make friends. It gives us a way to
present ourselves to the public as we want to be seen, not just how others see
us. We can stay in touch with old friends, make new ones, learn about current
events, search for employment, let people know what is going on in our lives,
and so much more. As many positive effects that new media has, there are also
some negative ones.
The negative effects of new media
are sometimes looked upon as the “dark side of new media”. http://www.stargroup1.com/blog/dark-side-social-media.
This applies especially to sites like Facebook and Reddit. Facebook allows
anybody’s profile to be viewed by everyone. This can harm someone who is trying
to get a job and their potential employer looks up their profile and sees
negative posts or inappropriate pictures. http://www.lifepaths360.com/index.php/facebook-and-society-how-facebook-affects-society-has-facebook-changed-society-5131/.Many
relationships have ended by a significant other finding out their loved one is
cheating on them through the posts on his or her profile. Negative posts about
others can lead to rumors and ridiculing of the person mentioned. This can also
apply to a certain business or company.
Reddit is a social networking
website that allows viewers to share ideas, vote on issues, engage in
conversations, and displays what is most currently trending on the web.
However, Reddit created the torment and ridicule of an innocent family. In
April 2013, missing college student 22-year-old Sunil Tripathi was falsely identified on Reddit to be the one
of the Boston Marathon bombers. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/04/25/boston-bombing-social-media-student-brown-university-reddit/2112309/
His family was hounded by reporters and ridiculed by the public. Eventually the
boy’s body was found in a river by Rhode Island and he was not one of the
bombers. This posting of misinformation has potentially destroyed an innocent
family.
In this problem of the dark side of
new media, I do not think it can be solved. Hearsay and rumors are just a part
of human nature. Before new media misinformation was spread by newspapers, and
before newspapers it was by word of mouth. In order to protect ourselves
against this problem, we need to come to terms with the fact that anything can
be seen on the internet; we have to be careful of what we read and say.
Works Cited
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/04/25/boston-bombing-social-media-student-brown-university-reddit/2112309/
I enjoyed how you segued from an introduction of new media in general into your topic on how easy misinformation can be spread through social media sites as well as the misinterpretation of information that individuals post onto their own page, like Facebook. I agree that your points show what can happen on two ends of a severity scale so to speak, as far as the dangers of information that is posted onto social media sites.
ReplyDeleteOn one end, information that people post onto their Facebook page can be used to judge that person as far as their work ethic and potential value to an employer. Unfortunately, posts made by friends onto their wall can also be misleading as far as the kind of person they are and culminate in the loss of a job or prevent them from obtaining employment.
This is an area of great debate, with people speaking out in support of people being able to express themselves as they wish on their own time and from their own computer, even if it depicts the boss of a company in an unfavorable light (http://jobsearch.about.com/od/employeerights/a/fired-for-facebook.htm). The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is a federal agency that investigates unfair labor practices, including the terms of social media policies that companies put forth in an attempt to prevent employees from talking badly about their company (http://jobsearch.about.com/od/employeerights/a/fired-for-facebook.htm). This prompts me to pose the question: when is the line crossed into an invasion of privacy?
Rumors being started and perpetuated are at the other end of the spectrum as far as misinformation and judgments on social media sites, in particular rumors that may contribute to the death of a person. For example, the death of Rebecca Sedwick, a 12 year old who was bullied and tormented prior to committing suicide (http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/15/justice/rebecca-sedwick-bullying-death-arrests/). One of the bullies is a 14 year old girl who was arrested after posting on Facebook, "Yes, IK I bullied REBECCA nd she killed herself but IDGAF" (http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/15/justice/rebecca-sedwick-bullying-death-arrests/).
I agree that judgments, misinformation, and the spread of rumors is something that is as old as human beings and that there is nothing that can be done to stop it in general; however, I believe that this information needs to be made available to the masses, in forms that cannot escape their attention. Armed with an increased awareness, people can be more careful about what they post and may think twice about the online persona they may want to create through social media sites. For example, creating public service announcements on popular television stations, radio ads, bill boards, and even through a media awareness class that is taught from the 5th grade consistently through the senior year in high school.
Even if only a handful of people are reached and absorb the information, that may be at least one life that is saved or another job retained.
Works Cited:
Doyle, Alison. Fired for Facebook: Facebook Firing and Virtual Water Cooler Rights. Web. Accessed Apr 24, 2014.
Almasy, Steve, Couwels, John, and Segal, Kim. Sheriff: Taunting Posts Lead to Arrests in Rebecca Sedwick Bullying Case. Oct. 16, 2013. Web. Accessed Apr 24, 2014.