The internet was conceived in an academic environment. The intentions behind the concept were bold and noble. The ability to connect with others in a blink of an eye quickly disrupted the way we communicate with each other, share information and knowledge. The revolution affected every aspect of our lives. It seemed that democratization of information would only benefit everybody. New, powerful tools were created in order to solve many complex problems, increase our productivity and entertain us. The western civilization has become a so called Global Village with no boundaries with respect to the exchange of thought, culture, money, etc.
However, nowadays serious questions are raised with respect to our safety, privacy and freedom itself - because of the internet and social media in particular. Almost everyone leads a double life, one of which takes place in the web. Our personal information, our thoughts, ideas are all stored, processed and used by the government, corporations and other people. Sometimes they are used in order to provide us with the services and goods that we need, sometimes to take advantage of us, to manipulate us and control us. We have reached a point in history in which it is really difficult to verify a fact and to separate truth from a false statement. We are bombarded with information from so many different sources at the same time that we no longer have time nor concentration to process it and to pick what is really important for us.
Equation 1. https://www.edelman.com/trust2017/
The majority of the Y generation is no longer interested in printed media, books and hobbies that entertained past generations. The imagination and free thinking is no longer a necessity when you are constantly told what is cool, sexy, what lifestyle and products are needed in order to achieve true happiness. Success is measured in money, popularity and the ability to influence other people. The uncomfortable truth can quickly be diminished by thousands of convenient lies distributed through fake social media accounts. People think that they co-create the reality through the internet and social media.
Can you really think freely if you only get your news from the world’s biggest advertising company? Are you really free from manipulation and outside control if the same company stores and analyses your private communication in order to sell products? Are our leaders really chosen by the people or are they imposed on us in order to fuel our fears, insecurities so that we feel the need for someone who will defend from the enemies we never knew we had?
1) What information sources do you consider reliable and unbiased?
2) Would you be willing to stop using social media for a year or longer? Why?
3) Do you think that social media providers should be subject to heavier regulation by goverments?
Comments
Be willing to stop using social media?? I'd love to! but... I have no choice. I need social medias to contact with people from university to be up to date :D But after graduating I will try to get rid of it ;)
I agree that social media providers should be regulated more by governments but it's very tough to achieve.
I actually did something like this a couple years ago, but I didn't stop using other social media completely. Nowadays we are too dependent on using online services because this is how we mostly keep in touch with each other and stay informed about events that are happening around us nowadays.
Actually, this already has been a big topic of discussions with recent changes in privacy control and privacy policy after data breach incident involving Facebook. I'm pretty sure that nobody wants companies to use our data in the way that can somehow negatively influence us.
2. I would, with exclusion of my professional field. It actually could be healthier for me since I wouldn’t have to worry about politics.
3. They already are in many places. It doesn’t seem to work out well for the quality of the news there. Only thing that I would consider be wary of is foreign sponsored organizations or owned news outlets especially if those nations have conflict of interests. Some countries force the media to be locally owned and I think it’s safer this way.
I would have no problem with that at all. I don't use most of the medias now, I'm not even registered, so no pain. I recommend taking a step back to everyone.
I think it should be measured by impact they could make. They've grown big now, so maybe it's time for some more responsibilities.
Unfortunately, using Facebook today is a must to stay up to date at the university. In addition, using the Messenger is very helpful.
I agree that social media providers should be subject to stricter government regulations.
I'm not really using social media - my feed on Facebook is literally empty because I unfollowed every friend I have - I use it purely for messenger and student group.
I don't know if social media companies should be regulated more heavily - I probably prefer Facebook to have access to my private data that Polish government.
I would love to stop using the social media, but unfortunately, I can't. Nowadays we use them to communicate with people and stay up to date. What's more, colleagues share the information about university stuff.
I think social media providers should be subject to heavier regulation by government. However, it's rather hard to achieve. There is no good solution to handle the fake news.
Yes, as I lived without social media problems 15 years ago, I would have no trouble now if I do not want to use them for one year.
There should not be any state or person in the sole control of anything.
Actually I had few attempts to get rid of social media but I still can’t stop using at least 1. The main reason is communication with friends and relatives. I still need an application for exchanging messages or so.
Removing facebook or Instagram is not a big deal at all. I did quite a few times and it saved me a lot of time. I think getting rid of everything would make my life a bit incomplete. All these apps were created in order to make people’s life easier. You don’t necessarily have to read all the junk that people post. You may surround yourself with desired information and using social media will be much more "efficient".
As was mentioned above it’s already wide spread but most companies doesn’t follow this. But on the other hand, we just agree with companies’ privacy policy when we start using their app.
2. I do not often use social networks, very rarely when I need to connect with a friend with whom I can only communicate in this social network. I do not lead instincts, but in our time from Instagram, you can learn a lot about people and I use it. Most often I use mail or corporate messengers to communicate with people.
3. I think they shouldn’t. I believe the government shouldn't have an impact on the internet. The people should regulate by themselves information which that are posting into it.
Nowadays (especially in Poland lately), sadly one of the least reliable sources of information is the national media that is controlled and distorted by the undemocratic government. One of the most worrying cases of spreading fake news is related to elections, politics and propaganda. The Internet trolls are hired by the political parties in order to spread chaos and fake news among people on the Internet, seeming authentic, but in reality being "opinions for hire".
2) Would you be willing to stop using social media for a year or longer? Why?
I am thinking of it more and more often, since the information that is reaching to me on social media is a so-called "social bubble" - I know that it is risky to be surrounded only by the people that think similarly and being fed information only from one of the viewpoints. On the other hand, more and more data is being abused by the big companies - just look what is happening with Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg testifying before the court right now.
3) Do you think that social media providers should be subject to heavier regulation by governments?
As commented before, governments cannot provide a solution nor be a mediator in a case, where it is one of the biggest problems. I think GDPR/RODO, so an international resolution, is a step towards better future for the data management in the Internet.
I don't want to stop using social media. A lot of people don't use it, but it doesn't bother me and I don't intend to take a break.
Hard to say. I think not. The government shouldn't interfere in such matters. Now it's OK and I think it shouldn't be regulated by the government.
I mean yes i would its not like i need social medias to live. Other point is that i dont use social media to get any sort of valuable information i couldn't get anywhere else.
Thats tricky because waht you are basically asking is : "Should one biased platform by governed by another biased entity such as government?" and the answer is i dont know, and i dont care about platforms bias as long as they dont try to pour it all over my face.
I think that Facebook is not my addiction. I like to use it because I can see some new posts/photos of my friends and it's everything. If I want to talk about something I can call them.
I agree with sentence that social media providers should be subject to heavier regulation by governments. Nowadays, we have RODO and we will see that would it make a difference.
2. I can stop using a social media because even I have an account on Facebook I don't share any private information and pictures on my profile. I use it to communicate with other people on private messages or on groups. I am waiting for solutions like e.g. "Gadu-Gadu" which will be a global and gives us possibility to communicate with other people without having an account on social media websites.
3. I think that companies which are using our private data without our clear agreement should have been punish hard for it and pay a huge compensations.
To be honest, I realised at the beginning of this year that social media services don't give me any value. Having this in mind, I decided to stop using them. After 5 months I can definitely say it was a right decision. I was able to focus on my own goals, I'm not disturbed during the day by shitty notifications and what's the best I have a lot of time for better things every day! I recommend this lifestyle to every of my friend I meet now. There is nothing wrong that can happen when you drop this addiction, so I think it's definitely worth trying.
I'm a follower of the idea that governments should not interfere in the businesses. We all have our minds, and we know what's the best for us. Mentioned example, in my opinion, is not fixable. As a society we are divided. Most of the human beings are sick of self-wealth, that's what we place on the pedestal, that's why there always will be some people who would try to fool others to gain some profits.
It's great that you tried to limit your connection with social media, I think that everybody should sometimes take a break from it.
Personally I am using Facebook and Messenger only in that kind of things like university stuff and connecting with my friends. I think that someone should invent some kind of alternative to Facebook.
2) I have no idea. Why would i be willing to stop? Like, for me social media are no about political news, just about talking with few friednds and watching memes)
3)Nope, I dont think so. Social media should be free-from-control zone. Well, i guess only governments control, some sensitive content should be filtered.