It's How You Use Social Media That Counts

From The Ramparts

Junious Ricardo Stanton

It’s How You Use Social Media That Counts

“Social media tools can lend themselves to many different—and contradictory—purposes. They can bring attention to injustice, communicate the logistics of demonstrations—and they can sell you just about any worthless new commodity on the planet. And while Twitter is a uniquely open platform to exchange ideas, argue, celebrate, commiserate and mobilize, a Twitter following does not take the place of an organization.” Barbara Ransby http://www.colorlines.com/articles/ella-taught-me-shattering-myth-leaderless-movement

Social media has revolutionized the world. In many ways it is a prime example of what are called “disruptive technologies”: inventions, developments and products that radically change an industry, market or human behaviors whether positively or negatively. Social media and we can include the Internet in this category have altered the way we live. MySpace, Facebook, Ning, YouTube, Twitter and a host of other media platforms have changed the way we relate to each other, how we do business and how we perceive the world around us.

Many people base their self worth and importance on the number of Facebook “friends” they have. In most instances these people are not their friends at all because they have little or no history or in person social contact with them outside of Facebook Twitter or Instagram.

The cellphone is another example of disruptive technology it is ubiquitous; people now eschew person to person engagement to spend time on their cellphones even when they are in close proximity to one another. I’ve been out in public and observed couples, families and groups and no one was talking to the other person or persons, they were all on their cellphones texting, scrolling down, playing games, taking selfies or talking to other people. People base their perceived social status on the type of cellphone they own!

As advanced and convenient as social media is, in many ways it has retarded social interaction, genuine socialization and engagement. “While on the surface it appears social networking brings people together across the Internet, in a larger sense it may create social isolation, according to a BBC News report. As people spend increasing amounts of time on social networks, they experience less face-to-face interaction. Scientists have evaluated social isolation in many studies, and have determined that it can lead to a host of mental, psychological, emotional and physical problems including depression, anxiety, somatic complaints and many others. In fact, a University of Illinois at Chicago School of Medicine animal study showed social isolation impaired brain hormones, which is the likely reason socially isolated people experience tremendous levels of stress, aggression, anxiety and other mental issues.” http://socialnetworking.lovetoknow.com/Negative_Impact_of_Social_Networking_Sites

Social media has popularized other technologies as well. For example High Definition cameras are now embedded in the cellphones, laptops and tablets. In many ways this has been a disruptive technology for digital camera manufacturers and photographers just as digital cameras were for the film and film processing industries and desktop publishing was for the printing and graphic design industry.

Thanks to cameras in cellphones we are able to document and chronicle our daily lives. If it weren’t for cellphones capturing images of police brutality it would go largely unreported. Perhaps this is why many municipalities and states are crafting laws making it illegal to film police officers in the line of duty. https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-general-assembly-revives-recording-ban/ FYI, Ramsey Orta the man who filmed the NY police officers who choked Eric Garner was arrested and detained. http://truthinmedia.com/grand-jury-indicts-man-who-filmed-eric-garners-chokehold-death-by-nypd-on-gun-charges/

But there is also the very real issue of privacy. Social media is a gateway to spying, surveillance and profiling not just by the government and the police state but by their corporate masters. “According to e-Marketer, global social networking revenues will exceed $10 billion 2013. Most social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and many others offer their services to members for free, yet still net significant income. In fact, according to Mashable Business, Facebook earned $1.6 billion in revenues in the first half of 2011, and was on pace to achieve more than $3 billion in revenues by year end. If the services are free, then, how do social networking websites earn such staggering sums of money? The answer is that you, the social network user, is the product these online giants sell to generate revenue. According to BBC News, social networking sites are uniquely positioned to make money by matching people to products. Since you generate content on a social networking site that indicates your interests, social and work background, and a great deal of other information about your personal preferences, the social networking sites can target advertisements specifically to you, a service for which advertisers are willing to pay significant amounts of money.

While many users feel their personal data is safe on social networking sites because they have set high levels of security settings, research suggests this is not the case. According to a 2010 Northeastern University and Max Planck Institute for Software Systems study, researchers created an algorithm to discover an individual's personal attributes by examining the one thing that most people leave public even when all other privacy settings are place: their friend list. Using the algorithm, researchers were able to infer many personal traits merely from friend lists, including educational level, university attended, hometown and other private data.” Negative Impact of Social Networking Sites http://socialnetworking.lovetoknow.com/Negative_Impact_of_Social_Networking_Sites

We need to be very discriminating about how we use and what we post on social media especially young people. Putting too much information, too many images, photos, videos can be potentially dangerous and damaging personally and professionally. Today many governments, colleges and companies hire people to scrutinize social media as part of their background check, acceptance, pre-employment or security processes. More and more instances and incidents of cyber bullying and harassment are occurring. Several people have committed suicide due to social bullying and harassment on the Internet and social media. Cyber bullying is a global phenomenon something parents, educators, youth workers and mentors should not take lightly. http://cyberbullying.us

Some people think something going viral on social media is a social movement in and of itself, it’s not! Real movements require: objectives, strategies, action, organizers, exhorters and people on the ground developing relationships and trust. “Many of our sisters and brothers are masterful users, but social media does not have magical powers. Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are tools like any other invention. The printing press revolutionized movement-building and revolution-making. So did the radio, telephone, television, personal computer, cell phone and a whole variety of media. Social media tools can lend themselves to many different—and contradictory—purposes. They can bring attention to injustice, communicate the logistics of demonstrations—and they can sell you just about any worthless new commodity on the planet. And while Twitter is a uniquely open platform to exchange ideas, argue, celebrate, commiserate and mobilize, a Twitter following does not take the place of an organization.” Ella Taught Me: Shattering the Myth of the Leaderless Movement Barbara Ransby http://www.colorlines.com/articles/ella-taught-me-shattering-myth-leaderless-movement

Some people seem obsessed with selfies and group photos to the point that’s all they do at events and functions! Whatever happened to talking to and meeting new people being engaged in life? I’m all for technology it all depends upon how it is used. In many cases modern technology has become a double edged sword or a Trojan horse.

While social media helps heighten awareness to current events and issues like the Oscar Grant, Treyvon Martin and Michael Brown murders by police and can promote events and help market products and people, on the other hand too much time and energy are spent on trivial and nonproductive activities.

Many people are addicted to social media to the point they spend hours and hours on it and exhibit symptoms of addiction. http://www.helpguide.org/articles/addiction/internet-and-computer-addiction.htm Life is for living, do not allow technology, gadgets, gizmos and social media to dictate your life dominate your being and existence or enslave you. Use them wisely, the operative word is wisely. Be the master not the slave.

-30-

Replies