Using social media responsibly

What we type online has the power to be either uplifting or harmful.

LAST Merdeka Day, I decided to go against my tradition of an early morning run and, along with a few friends, I organised a Merdeka celebration in Kuala Kubu Bahru.

We decided to no longer be KL-centric, and experienced what I envisioned Malaysia could be by having a pop-up nasi lemak stall at a quaint kopitiam called Kedai Makanan Basikal Stopover.

We promoted the event through social media and many KL-ites made the trip. I saw Malaysians – yes, even a number of our Borneo siblings – eating together at the kopitiam.

At the end of the brunch service, everyone who was there stood up and sang NegaraKu. There was no pomp or ceremony, just Malaysians proudly singing the national anthem.

I considered the event a success, and it could not have been done without social media.

A couple of weeks later, my intention to run for unity on Malaysia Day was drenched by heavy rain. Taking refuge from the rain, I couldn’t help but philosophise that being a citizen of this 53-year-young nation is like having good intentions being hampered by rain, especially when managing both online and offline lives.

Reading social media feeds on the crass comments made over the death of a political party’s elected spiritual leader and the online bullying of yet another woman who dared to speak her mind (and give the middle finger to those who deserved it) could drive any sane Malaysian to seek psychological therapy. At times, I do believe in taking refuge from the noise on social media for my own sanity.

Lest we forget, I quote Albus Dumbledore: “Do not pity the dead, Harry, but pity the living, especially those who live without love.”

In the case of the former, comments made hurt the grieving family of the deceased while in the latter, Malaysians need to reflect on listening to different points of view. A forum, after all, is a space for discussion, not didactic sermons.

It seems surreal that during the same period, social media allowed me to experience moments of patriotic pride when our amazing, differently abled athletes won us not one but four medals at the Rio Paralympics.

Gold medal performances from Mohd Ridzuan Mohd Puzi in the T36 (cerebral palsy) 100m dash, Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli in the F20 (intellectual disability) shot putt, Abdul Latif Romly in the T20 (intellectual disability) long jump and the bronze from Siti Noor Radiah Ismail in the T20 long jump will go down in our nation’s history as a reminder that there is no disability among us and that any dream is possible.

I was emotional watching the videos online of Negaraku being played and sung with gusto by our athletes in Rio. If not for a social media-savvy Minister for Youth and Sports and the diligence of the person behind the Tune Talk Twitter account who recorded the events, fellow Malaysians would have missed such historic moments as there were no live telecasts of the Paralympics.

Social media has proven that it can be used for good, more recently with Malaysians coming out in droves to help 65-year-old cancer survivor David Christopher with his unsold toys. David’s story was “viralised” by a well-meaning Malaysian.

Social media is intended as a tool to ease communications, yet its usage has changed our very human connection with each other. Ironically, in a very connected world, most of us seem disconnected and lonely.

Gone are conversations and faceto-face meetings to resolve issues. In their absence are “viralising” content, name-calling, bullying and misquoting statements done through various social media platforms.

Social media, while allowing the illusion of freedom of expression, has also exposed humans for what we truly are – vengeful, narcissistic and egoistic creatures.

Real-life reactions to what happens online have been “interesting”, to say the least. A tweet can cause one to be arrested in the early hours of the morning without a warrant, yet rape and death threats made online towards women don’t appear to be investigated with equal urgency.

A recent case saw a young Malaysian woman shamed online for being overweight and admitting to her depression on Twitter, nearly causing her to commit suicide. Such cases should remind us all that what we type online could potentially cause harm to another person.

Freedom of expression should be upheld in a democracy. But with freedom comes responsibility, and we need to master how to draw the line between free speech and causing hate. I think it is time for us all to be responsible and rational when expressing ourselves online and offline. Be critical of the issues, not judgemental of the messengers.