SOCIAL MEDIA

by David Nuttle

Social media has been both a blessing and a curse. The major pros and cons follow:

Pros

-- Improved communications

-- Rapid information access

-- Remote learning

-- Marketing & branding

-- Sharing of interests

Cons

-- Damaging images

-- Harassment & hate speech

-- Creation of anxiety & depression

-- Misinformation

-- Distraction & disruption

The major problem, created by social media, is organized hate speech encouraging lone-wolf attacks on a person or activity. Assassination of Charlie Kirk, by such a lone-wolf, is an example of corrupt use of social media. By sustaining all speech as free speech there are no limits on hate speech. However, not all speech can be considered free. An example would be a person entering a crowded movie theatre, during a movie, and shouting "fire" when there is no fire.