Thursday, December 28, 2017

Copy. Paste. Forward.

The problem with social media is that there is no filter. In the era of print and licensed broadcasting content had to undergo natural filters in the form of editorial evaluation. Social media allows anyone to publish.

Content that was worthy only of kedai kopi chatter now screams for attention in social media chat groups. The awful realisation is that when shit is dispensed by a friend or someone we know, we toss away our normal discerning nature and just click on the message; often will bad outcomes.

I recently made the mistake of clicking on a message sent to a social media group that I am a part of. The video had no accompanying message or warning. Immediately I was exposed to a horrible running imagery of a young man with a serious facial injury. With indignation I blasted a message to inquire about the point of posting such a horrible video. Hours later the contrite contributor apologetically explained that he "inadvertently" left out an accompanying written warning about using a mobile device while charging the battery.

The idiom, with friends like these who needs enemies comes to mind.

Copy. Paste. Forward. This mindless automechanical act when using social media must be stopped by general and widespread public oppobrium. Alas! I fantasise.

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