Watch that comment and posting on new/social media

The new/social media is the craze of the moment and everyone seems to be lapping it all up. The beauty of new/social media is that it makes for dialogic communication which is inherently human except that now it bridges distances and makes the world truly a McLuhanian global village or better still a town hall.

However, consumers and users of new media are the same old human beings with their virtues and vices. So, what you find is that the same attitude that is present offline has been transferred online. Abusers and haters still ply their trade and put their caustic trademark on news and events as well other person’s comments. The cynical type will coolly point out that it does not add up reporting that the Boko Haram suspect arrested in Enugu who came out of his forest hideout to buy cigarettes but could not find his way back would then lead the Nigerian Police to the same forest hideout that he had trouble finding! The “why always me” (pardon my Balotelli) will recount and lament all the woes that have befallen them. The chauvinists’ throats (hands this time, as in for typing) spew a continuous stream of venomous tirade. The exhibitionists flaunt curves, six packs ….And the beat goes.

What many do not consider is the implication of their postings and comments given that governments and others are now paying attention to social media postings. Perhaps a few examples will serve to bring this home more clearly. Two British tourists were denied entry into the US for tweeting the following: “free this week for a quick gossip… before I go and destroy America” and “3 weeks today we’re totally in LA p-ing people off on Hollywood and diggin Marilyn Monroe up”. They were taken aside when they arrived at Los Angeles Airport, questioned for five hours and deported as in back to sender. How did the US authorities access the humorous tweets between friends? Another valuable lesson from new/social media – there aint no hiding place (pardon my Americanism).

Liam Stacey was jailed for 56 days for racist abuse of Patrice Muamba who suffered a heart attack during the Tottenham and Bolton match at White Hart lane. He had tweeted “LOL (laugh out loud). F*** Muamba is dead!!!” In passing the sentence, the judge according to the Daily Mail noted that: “not just the footballer’s family, not just the footballing world, but the whole world were literally praying for Muamba’s life. Your comments aggravated this situation. I have no choice but to impose an immediate custodial sentence to reflect the public outrage at what you have done.”

Authorities in the West are also mulling jail time for teenagers for sexting – sending sexually suggestive messages and pictures. When an adult wades into these murky waters especially when it concerns minors they will soon be neck deep. Ask Wesley A. Phillips a former Hoquiam High School teacher who was sentenced to thirty days in jail for sending two 12-year-old girls sexually suggestive messages (including the photo of a penis!). It didn’t end there; he was stripped of his teaching certificate and made to register as a sex offender. There is outrage over employers asking employees for their Facebook password.

Justin Bassett got more than he bargained for when during a job interview, after a few preliminary questions, the interviewer started to search for his Facebook page. She could not see his private profile so she asked him for his login information. The profile would presumably speak volumes about the kind of person he is, beyond his slick and prepared answers about his personality! Even in terms of interpersonal, platonic and life-long relationships, a point to ponder- Does your new/social media footprints make you a good candidate?

So before you hit the post button, pause and reflect; probably better to keep your bad behavior offline. Or better still do something about it.