SPEAKING OUT

By IGNACIO R. BUNYE

We live in rapidly changing times, thanks to the technological wonders of Internet and social media.

As fast as we can click and send, we can broadcast messages to friends, relatives and to just about anybody, anywhere in the world. This despite the  fact that Philippines remains the slowest and most expensive – in terms of connectivity – in this part of the world.

Then US presidential candidate Barack Obama was among the first world leaders to realize the vast potential of social media as a platform for broadcasting  campaign messages. And Obama won against a less tech-savvy opponent by quite a margin.

According to Twitter, Obama was for a long time the record holder of the biggest number of Twitter followers (47 million plus) until he was overtaken by US TV personality Ellen Degeneres.

Following the Obama model, then candidate/now President Donald Trump likewise tweets daily, earning himself the sobriquet "Commander-in-Tweet". Trump has a reported following of 26.9 million. Most observers, however,  find disconcerting  Trump’s brand of  twiplomacy.

The Vatican is not to be outdone. Retired Pope Benedict XVI became the very first pope to use Twitter. Pope Francis I, a relative late-comer, is catching up fast with 14.1 million followers and counting.

Former President Benigno Aquino III had a reported 3.4 million followers.

President Rody Duterte might not be into it personally. But his staff certainly realize the value of social media in the presidential communication program. Foreign Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin is quite active in Twitter.

In homes, schools, communities, and just about any place where one has access to a computer, an iPod, or a smart phone, every Juan and Maria of practically all ages are sending and receiving messages via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Viber, and what have you.

The message is unmistakable. Social media is a very powerful tool for communication and is with us to stay.

And here is where Uncle Ben’s  advice to  Spider-Man should always be top-of-mind: With great power comes great responsibility.

This message has been  re-echoed  by Pope Francis.  While acknowledging that  “the internet, text messages, social networks,  and chats are ‘a gift from God” as they can be “fully human forms of communication” the Pontiff cautions that we must “use wisely the means at our disposal.”

The papal caveat arises from the very nature of the technology available.

Messages - true or not - have the potential of going viral in minutes , if not in seconds.

“The speed with which information is communicated exceeds our capacity for reflection and judgment, and this does not make for more balanced and proper forms of expression, ” Pope Francis said.

Social media has become a two-edged blade. On one hand, it can be used to inform and raise awareness. But it can also be misused for spreading alternative truths and as weapon for maligning, defrauding and even harming others.

The cloak of anonymity afforded by social media has given rise to armies of trolls who derive enjoyment in  disrupting/disturbing discussions, bashing personalities,  or just simply annoying others.

Wittingly or unwittingly, careless social media participants give out personal information which expose them to identity theft, financial scams, blackmail, sexual exploitation, and security threats.

Because of the foregoing, do we need to give up Facebook and Twitter?

Not at all. As long as we do not become prisoners in our virtual reality. And also for as long as we  follow the common-sense advice of practicing responsibility in the web:

Think before you tweet. Think some more before you re-tweet, share, or forward any message.

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