GOOD GUY IN THE WRONG POST…

DIVINA P. MENDOZA

Do you always believe in the things that you see online? When people get viral and quoted for their statement do you buy it? When they say someone is a scammer do you have a ready judgment? To judge is easy but to think takes more effort and employed insight. Juxtaposed with these videos that are growing adulation and people rising to prominence for the wrong reason is an unscripted scenario that no one knows about. Even though people are well acquainted with the Privacy Act (RA 10173) of 2012 and community sanctions imposed by social media platforms, why and how can all malicious content about people still be viewed freely online? Disregarding human dignity in the process and forgetting that people too have their stories. Let us not look far with the teacher who caught the attention of everyone and also the secretary of the department whom she serves. Well, when overwhelmed by heightened emotions people therefore raised their eyebrows when she went live. Yes, no excuses for the misstep there but not justify though. There might be a concealed bigger picture there. As we browsed in the posts of people, at first there was a cascade of negative reactions. But those who are critical enough to look into the darker, and grim reality. At times, people these days make social media platforms as a ready stage, even a court, or a venue for a forum for people to discuss things that are not usually brought up in the light. The going on in society -want of young generations’ values, crassness, indifference to the plot of others, ready condemnation of people, damaging and defacing other’s reputation, degradation of morality, and the pretense that each of us is perfect when we’re not. It is an eye-opener that though social media has its good side one could practice being enterprising, showcase one’s mental faculty and talent, and can be a means to tap people’s philanthropic side. Let us not take lightly how it also bent and broke people’s lives and caused misery to others because of irresponsible acts and antics. May it be, someday, more than people’s fear that AI will take over, what we should fear more is that social media becomes a bustling ground of tearing people down and division -of evil, of inhumane acts.

-oOoTHE AUTHOR IS SST-III AT FRANCISCO G. NEPOMUCENO MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL CIITICENTER, PANDAN, ANGELES CITY, PAMPANGA