In recent times, social media have
seemingly dominated the information world. It is obviously distinct from other
existing media networks in various ways.
For instance, it operates in a dialogic
transmission mode – many sources to many receivers – in contrast to print and
electronic media that operate under a monologic transmission mode, one source
to many receivers. It can simultaneously connect as many sources and receivers
as possible.
There
are numerous positive roles of social media networking in nation building. Though
it’s a relatively new advancement in technology, it has made the world seem
like just a minute clan owing to its ability to simultaneously connect millions
of people from different localities across the globe, as well as spread news
within a shortest time frame.
Hence, it makes information go viral
that it could be assess from any locality. It enables one to reconnect with
his/her old time friend or schoolmate. In addition, it helps people to stay
connected to each other at all times.
Social
networking is a great way to meet entirely new individuals and entities. One
can easily discover persons or groups that are into his social/business
interests. Online dating is currently more common than the traditional pattern
of dating, and it’s worthy of note that many happily married couples today met
online.
On the other hand, social media is at
the moment the fastest and easiest way to promote goods and services; and it
gives such products a different dazzling look, thereby encouraging the audience
to patronize them.
Entertainers these days don’t need to
be on television/radio before they could be heard; they can globally market
their brands online with ease. The most fascinating part of it remains that the
brand in question would be known by countless countries within a twinkle of an
eye.
The social media equally helps to catch and
convict criminals. People are usually ignorant of the consequences of what they
post online. Often times they post, albeit ignorantly, pictures or videos of
themselves doing illicit things. In the same vein, they also place bragging
posts regarding various ‘minor’ crimes they have committed.
The law enforcement agencies
invariably visit these sites towards fishing out the bad eggs as well as to
trace a suspected culprit. The sites also assist the agencies while prosecuting
any suspect in their custody.
However,
it’s imperative to note that there are equally negative impacts of social media
on mankind and the society at large. There are several falsehoods on various
social media platforms; such information or propaganda can stir up panic and
severe misinformation in the affected area.
Although it helps to start new
relationships, it had on the contrary succeeded in ruining or terminating
various other existing relationships. The ability to easily share people’s
privacy, such as nude pictures and videos, on social sites has constituted
several nuisances in people’s real life. It suffices to say that it puts trust
to a limit.
Cyber bullying is not left out. Having access
to people’s lives at all times is not encouraging, because such avenue helps
many online fraudsters to lure their potential victims into their net, hence
taking advantage of their vulnerability.
Sometime in 2012, one Miss Cynthia
Osokogu was reportedly cajoled to a hotel room via social media. At the said
venue, she was brutally gang raped and therein murdered by the fraudsters. Similarly,
people are duped through social networking under the guise of ‘buying and
selling’. The fact that you are not seeing who you are conversing with is
enough reason to worry.
Prospective employers use the social media to
scrutinize, and consequently discriminate their intending employees. They would
delve into the profile of the jobseeker and by so doing, would acquire all the
needed private information about him or her.
Employers always use this mechanism to
their advantage and in most cases, to the detriment of the applicant. Among
all, one of the greatest plights attached to the social media remains that
people are fast becoming addicted to it. This kind of craze causes a lot of
distractions for people in their respective fields of endeavour.
On the other hand, most people while conveying
messages on social media prefer using symbols, smileys, abbreviations or what
have you, to writing words in full. This syndrome has gone a long way in
causing a great decline in the people’s grammatical ability.
Hacking is another worrisome factor
that can’t be overlooked while discussing the social media. Internet hackers
can intercept your account under a certain guise or by gaining access to your
password. Considering that most users of the social media aren’t professionals
indicates that people are liable to constantly fall victim.
It
would be ideal to regulate the day-to-day usage of the social media with a view
to sustaining decency and legality. All stakeholders to include families,
communities, schools and religious bodies are required in implementing the
proposed regulation.
Aside legislation, the leadership of
the above key institutions can institute a law binding the users of social
media within their respective jurisdictions. The parents/guardians, for
instance, can determine when and where cell phones should be used by their
wards. Self-control will also help to avert several misfortunes that could
befall the users of the platform.
Above all, individuals, groups and corporate organizations
are advised to maintain a complicated password on their various accounts and
endeavour to change it regularly, to avoid hacking.
The social media is a viable platform,
but its intrigues, intricacies and technologies call for thorough mindfulness
and wisdom while using it. Think about it!
Comrade Nwaozor, a tech expert, could be reached via
Twitter:
@mediambassador
