Ethics to be followed in social media
Introduction:
Currently, the use of social media has become a part of human life everywhere. It allows users to get and share information all over the world in a short time.
Unfortunately, the consequences of social media abuse in spreading information also affect the number of users who enter the legal domain resulting from the information spread on social media that is unethical.
To reduce the problem in using social media, ethical conduct is needed to prevent mutually insulting or accusing others of no apparent reason. As a matter of fact, these matters will lead the users into law for being careless in spreading information on the internet.
Ethics in social media:
Indeed, users have freedom in using social media to communicate with anyone. What is ignored here is the ethics in using it. It would be much better if users know what ethics should be noticed when using social networking.
The lack of public awareness related to ethics in social media will trigger some social problems. Mostly the users are blinded by the hoax news on social media. Here are some important things related to ethics in using social media.
Ethics in communication:
Mostly occurred, ethics are ignored during the communication through social media. The most common cause appears many abusive words during a conversation through social networking, both intentionally and unintentionally. It would be nice if communication on the Internet is using polite and proper words. Always use the correct language when we communicate to anyone through social media.
Avoid Spreading race, pornography, and violence issues:
It would be wise if we do not spread information relates to certain races or religions. Share useful information only, avoid conflict with others, and upload violent photos such as traffic accident photos or other violent images.
Check the news validity:
Nowadays, it is widespread to find out news that disfigures other parties in social media. Some parties did this to impose the competitors by sharing hoax news. Therefore, social media users should be more intelligent in capture any information. Before you share the news, it will be wiser to check the news validity first.
Appreciate other’s works:
When sharing information in photographs, writings, or videos that belong to others, make sure to mention the source to show your appreciation of other’s works. Never copy-paste any content without showing the source.
Do not share personal information too much:
It would be wiser for you to restrict your personal life from using social media. Do not share your personal information, such as phone number or home address. There will be a possibility that other contacts on your list will use the information to harm you.
Human rights violation:
According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to privacy. While the document was not written when computers were around, it applies to every user on every social media network. All users have the right to their privacy. However, users' privacy gets violated more often than people think. Many people suspect that if a user keeps their information private, it stays private, which is not the case. Social media networks have access to that information. Because they want to make information more public, they will allow advertisers to access users' private information and the like without the user's consent, which violates people's privacy rights.
Another way that users' rights get violated is by cyber-bullying. When people are sent spiteful and malicious things online, article five of the Declaration, which says "No one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment," is violated. Social media networks have ways of dealing with cyber-bullying. They have the power to revoke a user's account. They have to have a legit reason to do so.
The case related to violence against humanity in social media:
- In 2012, multiple Twitter users threatened Indian writer, poet, and activist Meena Kandasamy after she discussed a beef-eating festival in the southern city of Hyderabad using her personal Twitter account. (The Hindu community considers cows sacred) Kandasamy was threatened with acid attacks and televised gang rape. Kandasmay is Dalit, a lower-status group according to the Hindu caste system, and the festival was organized by a marginalized caste group.
- In 2013, Indian journalist Sagarika Ghose was threatened with rape by Twitter users who discovered and published her daughter’s name and school. Ghose said the tweets came from right-wing nationalists targeting “liberal and secular women.” Ghose subsequently stopped sharing her personal views on Twitter.
- Kavita Krishnan, a prominent Delhi-based women’s rights activist, was harassed during a 2013 online chat about violence against women on news website Rediff by a person using the handle @RAPIST until she exited the discussion.
- Separately, in 2015, Krishnan and Indian actress Shruti Seth both criticized the prime minister’s social media initiative #SelfieWithDaughter. He called on fathers to share photos of themselves with their daughters to promote education for girls. Both were sent abusive language and violent threats on Twitter.
- Rega Jha, Buzzfeed’s India editor, was subject to rape threats after praising Pakistani players on Twitter during a 2015 India-Pakistan cricket match. Many Indian men sent participated in the abusive comments, including writers Chetan Bhagat and Suhel Seth. India and Pakistan have had a tense relationship since the partition of India in 1947.
Conclusion:
The harmful effects of media violence bring psychological impact to the minds of the youth, especially in today’s generation. Because of their curiosity, they try to imitate what they see and hear from televisions, music lyrics or videos, movies, and video games. They do not know that these things can greatly affect their attitude and behavior, which might be a result of violence.
Most scientists agreed that parents could be a strong force in reducing such media violence. They should let their children share their thoughts and fears about killings or death. Parents should also know the main risk factors of media violence to the youth and familiarize the programs and video games their children watched and played. They should avoid exposing their children to too many video games and television to reduce the violent behavior of their children.
No matter how strong the tendency to think otherwise, it is important to know that content does not equal the effect. Media violence is certainly not the sole cause or even the most important contributor to youth aggression. Parents can actually reduce the risks associated with media violence by reducing exposure to television and video games.
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