World Social Media Day

“The internet is a tool. Social media is a tool. At the end of the day, tools don’t control us. We control them. And we can remake them. It’s up to each of us to decide what we value and then use the tools we’ve been given to advance those values,”- Barack Obama. A significant number of the population stays far away from social media. However, such is the power and influence of social media that one does not necessarily have to be an account holder to feel its impact. Undoubtedly, we live in an era of social media. In fact, the proliferation of social media makes it difficult for many of us to keep abreast. Regardless, of our position on social media, it is clear it is here to stay. Social media refers to the means of interactions among people in which they create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. Social media has enormous traction globally. Additionally, mobile applications make these platforms easily accessible. World Social Media Day is celebrated globally on June 30 each year to recognize the impact of social media on communication and to raise awareness about its benefits and drawbacks. Oftentimes, we confuse the terms misinformation with disinformation. We owe it to ourselves to know the difference in order not to become part of the negativity associated with social media. Misinformation is false or inaccurate information getting the facts wrong. Disinformation is false information which is deliberately intended to mislead intentionally misstating the facts. Recently, Prime Minister Andrew Holness remarked that new legislation is needed to create a safe online space where the freedom and rights of all Jamaicans can be respected, and the integrity of information and transactions are secure. Holness was speaking after a recently-concluded meeting of the National Security Council. His statement follows a recent declaration that his Government will be taking steps to begin clamping down on the proliferation of false information on social media platforms. The oldest newspaper in Jamaica in their editorial on June 27, 2024 stated that Prime Minister Andrew Holness has legitimate concerns about the growth of misinformation and so-called ‘fake news’ on social media platforms. The Prime Minister, however, has to be careful about which tools he employs in attempting to fix the problem. "First, the prime minister must abide by the constitutionally guaranteed principle of freedom of expression as his government navigates the tensions between upholding that freedom and protecting the right of citizens not to be harmed by the callous abuse of free speech." The newspaper added the Prime Minister must ensure that any regulatory system his government designs does not place more burdens on traditional media. Hurricane Beryl. As the Caribbean prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Beryl many of us in the region depend heavily on various social media platforms in order to obtain the latest news on this potential life-threatening storm. Forecasters warned the first major hurricane of the Atlantic season would bring life-threatening winds and storm surge to the Windward Islands. Hurricane warnings have been issued for a number of islands including Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica and Tobago. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for Martinique, while a tropical storm watch is in effect in Dominica and Trinidad. Unquestionably, it is very evident that social media plays an integral role in facilitating regionalism and knowledge sharing. North American Counterparts. Section 230 of the 1996 US Communications Decency Act protects Internet service providers from the legal obligations that normally fall on publishers, once they do not themselves create the content complained against. However, the companies can, on their own volition, remove content from their networks, which essentially makes their policing of issues such as hate speech and foreign interference in US elections a voluntary exercise. On the other hand, Canada has a contentious bill before the federal parliament, which, if passed, will allow regulators to demand that platforms/service providers, within 24 hours of a complaint, remove, among other things, sexual content, revenge porn-type postings, images of the sexual abuse of children, hate speech and matters promoting self-harm. Challenges to Democracy. Former U.S. President Barack Obama at a speech at Stanford University on ‘Challenges to Democracy in the Digital Information Realm’ stated that everyone is part of the solution to make democracy stronger in the digital age and that all of us from technology companies and their employees to students and ordinary citizens must work together to adapt old institutions and values to a new era of information. Everyone has access to individualized news feeds that are fed by algorithms that reward the loudest and angriest voices (and which technology companies profit from). “You have the sheer proliferation of content, and the splintering of information and audiences,” Obama observed. “That’s made democracy more complicated.” Obama said, facts are competing with opinions, conspiracy theories, and fiction. “For more and more of us, search and social media platforms aren’t just our window into the internet. They serve as our primary source of news and information. The splintering of news sources has also made all of us more prone to what psychologists call “confirmation bias,” The former president added that inside our personal information bubbles, our assumptions, our blind spots, our prejudices aren’t challenged, they are reinforced and natural. He concluded that we are more likely to react negatively to those consuming different facts and opinions all of which deepens existing racial and religious and cultural divides. Social Media and Mental Health. Social media can serve as a two edged sword. During the COVID-19 pandemic many of us only had social media to remain in touch with family, friends, as well as to pursue our educational and worship experiences. Human beings are social creatures. We need the companionship of others to thrive in life, and the strength of our connections has a huge impact on our mental health and happiness. Being socially connected to others can ease stress, anxiety, and depression, boost self-worth, provide comfort and joy, prevent loneliness, and even add years to your life. On the flip side, lacking strong social connections can pose a serious risk to your mental and emotional health. If you are spending an excessive amount of time on social media and feelings of sadness, dissatisfaction, frustration, or loneliness are impacting your life, it may be time to re-examine your online habits and find a healthier balance. There is no shame in speaking to a therapist. We all need help occasionally to manage our daily stresses. The fact is that prior to the advent of social media there were many social ills in the society. The good news is that social media have leveled the playing field between the Global North and Global South. Regrettably, the rapid rise of the technological age has given rise to more problems, in other words, social media have served to amplify the many ills of society. On this World Social Media Day it is imperative that as users of social media that we are respectful of other views and take responsibility for any posts we make. Social media can also be addicted. The more time we spend on social media is the more our exposure to cyber-bullying among other negative behaviours. Happy World Social Media Day. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #WorldSocialMediaDay