For the purposes of this paper the term “social media means platforms like Facebook, X (Formally known as Twitter) and Instagram.
Up until the explosion of the internet normal human conversation was conducted either face-to-face or
via telephone with the former being very personal with each participant being able to visually see the
other participant the latter more visually anonymous and unable to assess or appreciate the other
participant’s facial expressions and “body language, which can both deliver their own message but must
be seen to be understood. Lang Social media.
There are indisputable advantages to the introduction of social media platforms, e.g. to quickly and
efficiently share important ideas that in itself has made crucial advancements in science, math and the
humanities. There is also humankind’s need to be social and all platforms have helped ensure this;
indeed, while the author, a “baby-boomer, considers himself a dinosaur in this subject, having started his
own Facebook account and reestablishing contact with old army comrades after decades of silence.
As previously alluded to, human discourse when done in person requires both maturity, social graces and an element of sophistication. Therefore, it is unfortunate that social media allows some deficient in those
qualities and lacking the bravery to confront another face-to-face to hide behind the anonymity of social
media- hardly brave, perhaps gutless?
Regrettably this diminishes the value and power of social media resulting in on-line bullying with some tragic results. It is therefore suggested that the use of social media be applied with a combination of maturity, sophistication and empathy.
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