Sunday, 15 March 2015

SNS: Saviour or Destroyer?

Posted by Phoebe Chua: 

   For the past decade or so, social networking sites (SNS) have never ceased to dominate the Internet scene. Along with the rage of smartphones for the past few years, it is now possible for almost anyone to be connected through SNS just with a few simple steps. With Facebook, twitter, Blogspot and etc., information spreads like wildfire within seconds by mere clicks of a button. Although it is evident that SNS has brought a lot of access to communication, whether it brings more help or harm is still yet to be determined.

   One of the debatable issues concerning SNS is how people  use it to paint a person's image, hence affecting his or her reputation. With just a click on the 'share' button, information, whether valid or not, is spread to thousands of people on the net. The situation might not be as alarming if it were positive news about a person. However, in the event that negative news on someone is being shared to thousands with just a click, the damage done is basically irrevocable, even when its validity is questionable. As for positive news on a person, the most damage it could bring is that the person's deeds, personality or what not that's being promoted is overrated.

   In short, I once again emphasize that we should always have a balanced perspective of technology and its functions. The same goes when using SNS. You never know what it might do, when you click 'share' without a clue. Don't you think so too?

8 comments:

  1. What more can I say regarding this issue? I couldn't agree more! Netizens are more concern of becoming famous by craving more likes and share from their friends. They feel like it is more important than one's reputation. Last time, we used to meet with the person we have the misunderstanding to repair a broken friendship, with the presence of social media, we chose to bring people down by wanting others to agree with us without us realizing what we could lose. How worthy a friendship nowadays can be? It is just reliable on the SNS? Will it ever be the same?

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  2. I do agree that people nowadays are more concern of becoming famous on SNS like facebook, twitter and etc. Everything is about viral, viral and viral. I like to say it as a viral syndrome. Majority of the people today just post anything without even think about it. They don't even care that the story might hurt the feeling of others. They simply think that they are free to post anything. They just hope that it goes viral. All about popularity, likes and share. But then, what will happen to the mentality of our society?

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  3. Social Networking Sites were created to help us with network expansion. I just could not stand seeing irresponsible people misusing these platforms. Often, we read unfortunate news about people being cheated off their freedom and money via interaction with strangers on various networking sites. Even right-minded adults could be deceived, what more rebellious teenagers and naive children. We should now design and attend ICT Intelligence class in all schools ! To all the "playful" SNS users out there, be mindful that your actions affect people in ways you may never imagine. Start using SNS the right way!

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  4. Once I read this entry, I remembered a quote says, "on the internet you can be anything you want. It's it strange that so many people choose to be stupid". But, the effect of Social Networking Sites to people nowadays were very strong and depends to the users how to use it. I strongly agree with statement from Phoebe Chua that we should always have a balanced perspective of technology and its functions. The same goes when using SNS. In my opinion,the most important things before post something to Social Networking Sites is to think either the post will give good or bad impact or maybe it will hurt someone feeling.

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  5. I do agree with the statement above, social networking sites (SNS) enable communication widening our circles of contacts. It is undeniable that SNS given impact to us while we misuse it. However, as a SNS user, we actually can construct our "profile", "status", even the post that we sharing through make it as "public" or "private" before we share it out. In advance of technology, we should use it wisely and carefully. For example, the case of Alvivi sharing their happiness of celebrate Ramadan by having the bak kut teh with a photo in Facebook. This just a simple sharing of the post cause them get sue. So, in a multicultural country, we are one of the community, we should respect each other culture in order to achieve peace and harmony. Therefore, as a user of SNS, we should use it cautiously.

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  6. Yes! I do agree about this issues. Come on! People nowadays think they live in dual dimension. First in real life and second in Social Networking Site (SNS). They wish they could be the person who famous in SNS through getting and gain like or favourite from others friends in SNS. The most horrible things is how can they be so addicted to gain that like? After that, bragging about their popularities. Such a boring life.

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  7. Hye, its been a while, isn't it?
    According to an article by Lee Do Yoen, the developments of the SNS have been going on since 1997, and people’s interest over them has been increasing more and more. Until now, 50% of the population on the earth are involved in the SNS and the huge part of them are teens. In my view, the SNS is actually bring more harm to peoples especially the teenagers and young adult. This is because nowadays, they like to use this kind of platform of SNS like Twitter to bring other's reputation and prides down. Just like Phobe said, it could bring negative impact to them. For example, I have once ready my friend's Twitter to see what actually happened in it because I do not own a Twitter account. But, guess what? I saw that peoples who are twittering will update their status once in 5 minutes and some of the status are bad-mouth other peoples including their own friends. How shocked I was. I noticed that some of the peoples there even have the virtual war going on between them. Therefore, I am thinking is it the real intention to have SNS is for that? To bad-mouth other peoples? To make an enemy? It is supposedly no, right?

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  8. Tell me about it! And the scary part of SNS is how it can destroy a person if one's private videos/pictures land in the wrong hands (unless you're expecting your own reality show like Kim K, then that's a different story). As simple as with a click of a 'share' button, it is capable of destroying people's marriage, careers, and in some cases, leads to suicides. Once it's in the Internet, it's FOREVER there.

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