COMMENT: Stupid is as stupid does on social media

IN 10 years’ time, we will probably look back aghast at the free-for-all anarchy that used to prevail on social media.

In the same way we now find it hard to believe that you could once smoke in cinemas and on buses, we will recall the horror stories about how irresponsible behaviour on social media ruined countless lives, irrevocably damaged good reputations and contributed to a general decline in mental health.

We will talk about the high-profile lawsuits that came about when the penny belatedly dropped that our defamation laws also apply to online content; that a drunken midnight tweet can land you in court as easily as a misplaced photograph in a newspaper crime report or ill-chosen sound-bite on a radio show.

When is it going to sink in that just one clumsy sentence can destroy not only the life of the intended target, but that of the person who wrote it? Hardly a week goes by that we don’t hear about a resignation caused by a careless comment, tweet or retweet. Even a hastily deleted tweet can leave a digital footprint if saved by others.

These days, you’d almost think that modern society has become more racist, more intolerant, more sexist than ever. But it hasn’t. We are simply now seeing a side to people that we wouldn’t have otherwise if they didn’t have a digital platform to air their stupidity or ignorance.

Many mainstream media organisations have taken the decision to remove the facility for readers’ comments on their online stories for fear of being sued. But it is clear that social media sites now need to consider making it easier to disable comments for specific posts, particularly on controversial stories that are likely to provoke extreme reactions.

Regulating how we use Twitter will pose a particular challenge. Making it more difficult for trolls to set up anonymous profiles is a start but the deeper problem lies with the often ignorant behaviour of its users – from the President of the United States of America downwards.

Ultimately, the solution is proper social media education and awareness for the next generation of sports stars, celebrities, businesspeople and politicians. Schools can play a role here, of course, but so can parents. From a young age, it needs to be impressed upon our children that words can not only hurt, but in some cases can ruin lives; that sometimes a nasty thought is best left inside your head rather than expressed verbally or online. The message should be: just because you think it doesn’t mean you always have to share it publicly.

Social media has made it easier for us to communicate with each other. When harnessed properly, it is a highly effective information tool. But like any tool, its safety is completely dependent on responsible usage.