'Social media divide more than unite.' To what extent is this true?
Social media divides.
Side Score: 11
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Social media unites.
Side Score: 6
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The rise of social media, while making it a lot easier for people to present their opinions online, also gives rise to the possibility of rising radicalism. The fact that certain opinions that may be viewed as offensive can cause social media to be a source of disputes. In a very recent case, the social media was used to propagate racist remarks that may cause tension between different races, and hence causing a line drawn between 'us' and 'them' in society, disrupting the sense of a common identity. http://www.straitstimes. 342 days ago | Side: Social media divides.
Adding on to racism on social networking sites, the recent YouTube video posted up by a Chinese scholar studying at EASB (East Asia Institute of Management) sparked off a major debacle in the virtual world. His video provoked a very strong reaction from Singaporean netizens.
Supporting Evidence:
Chinese scholar sparks off a huge debate online after posting a racist video.
(singaporenewsalternative.blogspot.sg)
342 days ago | Side: Social media divides.
Not everyone has access to the internet and social media platforms. Hence, any views expressed online may not be reflective of social sentiment. It is subjective to an individual or and organisation. The differing opinions shared on social media platforms can create conflicts between segments of society. 342 days ago | Side: Social media divides.
There is still a wide digital divide between developed and developing countries in terms of using and accessing communications technology. In 2009, only 5 per cent of people worldwide had broadband internet at home. In Africa, only 5 per cent of its entire population went online in 2007. 342 days ago | Side: Social media divides.
"57% of people talk more to people online than they do in real life." http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/ The lack of face to face interaction between friends in real life leads to a dangerous trend of people being defined by their online identity. This also may cause the deprovement of social skills due to the lack of requirement for facial emotions and body language in communicating with people. Why bother to arrange a meeting to catch up with your friends when you can just leave a message online? The impersonal nature of the internet has caused the loss of common experiences that make us grow closer. The rise of social media has caused friendship towards a 'fast-food' like medium. It's easy to maintain, convenient and not time consuming. But is this really what the nature of friendship be degenerating towards? 342 days ago | Side: Social media divides.
Social media used to manipulate mindsets and distribute information that could be mispurposed. 342 days ago | Side: Social media divides.
KONY 2012 is another example for social media using to manipulate. The video that went viral on various social media websites uses the viewers' sympathy to lobby for donations without providing them with the full information on the situation. This deliberate misleading campaign uses lies by omission to bring about support for the Invisible Children's cause. The campaign is in fact laced with layers of deeper issues and ulterior motives that turns out to only present one side of the story. Hence, how propaganda can be used on the social media to cause people to lobby for a questionable cause can also divide more passively accepting group from critically and actively analytical individuals.
Supporting Evidence:
A critique on Kony 2012 and impact of social media on mindsets
(www.crackintheroad.com)
342 days ago | Side: Social media divides.
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In this fast paced globalised world, the social media is responsible for the mass influx of personal opinions online. Nowadays almost everyone has a facebook/twitter account. http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/ It has removed the physical barrier between individuals of similar interests and allow them to have a common ground for interaction or even fight for a common cause. (E.g. Facebook was integral to information transmission and coordination for the Arab Springs Revolution.) It also makes it possible for individuals to understand each other by opening up different viewpoints on the public space. Ultimately, this creates a sense of unity between widely diverse populations. 342 days ago | Side: Social media unites.
Everyday access to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram has brought people together even if they are miles apart or have not seen one another's faces. On social networking sites, people with similar hobbies get together by creating groups on Facebook expressing their interests. Following that, those who share common ideas click the "Join" icon and can automatically interact with their counterparts. They are able to exchange ideas and information although both are complete strangers sitting behind the computer screen. 342 days ago | Side: Social media unites.
Social media can be used to share news and spread the word to the rest of the world through a simple click. People begin to grow aware of what is going on around them. Governments are also able to utilize social networking sites to their advantage. Through these applications, the government definitely spends less on broadcasting. Instead of holding press conferences and publicity events that are costly, the government can use Facebook and Twitter to transmit news to the public. For e.g. After the London riots in 2011, groups were created on Facebook to organize massive clean-ups to clear the streets of London. Facebook groups consistently broadcasted cleanup locations and times, along with other pertinent information regarding the initiative. People took to Blackberry Messenger by sending out mass messages to rally the people of London to help out in rebuilding their city. Retweets in Twitter spread the word of this mass event to everyone, including those from other parts of the world. Beyond the riot cleanup, another effort to catch and prosecute looters has taken root, with the Tumblr account “Catch A Looter” accepting and posting images of looters for identification. 342 days ago | Side: Social media unites.
As the internet is used by 30% of the world's population, it is used as a tool for youths for them to voice their views. Youth activism is on the rise, with many youths taking action for social transformation. Young people spent most of their time on the Internet visiting social networking websites, a daily habit for at least a quarter of them. Recognizing the close ties of young people with social networking websites, many of them are using these platforms to communicate their ideas and activities, including those aimed at catalysing positive social change. Eg. Youths using Facebook to garner publicity for their CIP programmes such as Project Hello Stranger 342 days ago | Side: Social media unites.
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