IN YEARS to come we will probably look back incredulously at the early days of social networking. In the same way that we now find it difficult to believe that you could once smoke in the cinema and on our buses, we’ll probably say things like:
“Remember the days when you could post anything you wanted on Facebook before they eventually removed it?
?
Social networking has changed our lives forever and make no mistake about it – it’s here to stay. It can be a highly effective and efficient way of communicating with friends and family. It also presents businesses with a valuable marketing tool that costs nothing. Most companies have their own Facebook or Twitter accounts these days and those that don’t are losing out on new ways to reach potential customers.
But like everything in life, a nasty minority is ruining social networking for the majority of responsible users. It has become a breeding ground for bullies, cowards, racists and misogynists.
An increasing number of celebrities are closing their Twitter accounts due to relentless abuse from internet trolls. Rather than providing a means of connecting directly with their fans, Twitter has made them an easy target for vindictive individuals who often hide behind the cloak of anonymity.
To be fair to the likes of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, their reporting procedures are being beefed up and complaints of abusive or inappropriate behaviour are taken very seriously.
As was the case with the poor teenage girl at the centre of the Slane controversy, the graphic images were removed quite quickly. But not before they had made their way around the world, inviting sneers and obnoxious, judgemental comments from people who should know better.
Digital media is relatively new and even its operators don’t seem sure how to prevent its abuse. The reality is that no print edition newspaper or magazine would have allowed those photographs to be published in uncensored form.
For all the talk of new media being the way forward, social networking has a lot to learn about putting the same safeguards in place as traditional, old-fashioned newspapers.
For now, parents need to have a serious sit-down with their teenagers and demand access to their social networking accounts. In light of what’s going on these days, it will be worth the big row.