SOCIAL media offering is going to get merrier or messier whichever way you look at it with an estimated 2.77 billion people as users in 2019.
This is because Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (IG), Snapchat and the like allow all sorts of views and videos in various leftist, centrist or rightist tones.
Looking at the above numbers, it means so many have given their take on issues they are concerned about, which is just about everything out there.
Let’s focus on IG — on politics and social justice. I've recently scoured some of the views of IG users on current happenings, which can be true on many levels.
For example, maidag2017 put forth Ida Skibenes’ apt description of world affairs when she said, “France is on fire, England is in chaos, America is divided, Russia is a dictatorship. Meanwhile, I'm sitting here in Norway, eating gingerbread dough and reading an article on how the White House warns about Nordic socialism”.
I don’t know much about Nordic socialism, but I agree with her on the four countries’ predicament.
The Yellow Vest protests have forced French President Emmanuel Macron to back down from hiking fuel prices, while England is still pinned down about Brexit strategy with Prime Minister Theresa May having to fend off a no-confidence motion from members of her Conservative Party recently.
As for America being divided, the Donald Trump circus continues. From withdrawing from international agreements, starting trade wars, the hire and fire plus resignations of officials and using the term “fake news” to denigrate some media, Trump is rightly seen as a divisive figure. In retrospect, any leader can fit that description.
As for Russia being a dictatorship, President Vladimir Putin won’t mind as he is in a better place than his American counterpart who is under many investigations. The United States isn’t really friendly with Russia, but with the Trump White House putting its focus on China and elsewhere, Putin must be happy.
And for Trump opponents, in a way, that is evidence of the collusion between the American president and Russia!
Social media platforms have permitted users, young and old, to just be themselves and quite a few have been praising or condemning well-known figures.
For IG handle Lester_and_Charlie, they highlight an elderly American statesman. While a 93-year-old has come to prominence once again in Malaysia, another veteran of the same age range has captured their imagination. That person is Jimmy Carter, a former US president, who turned 94 last month. He had also, by the way, attended the funeral of George H.W. Bush, another ex-president.
The IG user quoted a good advice from the former leader who said: “If you don’t want your tax dollars to help the poor then stop saying you want a country based on Christian values, because you don’t.”
Good point for people to ponder by whichever value system one is from. The Washington Post, in a feature last August about Carter, stated: “Carter has used his post-presidency to support human rights, global health programmes and fair elections worldwide through his Carter Centre, based in Atlanta. He has helped renovate 4,300 homes in 14 countries for Habitat for Humanity, and with his own hammer and tool belt, he will be working on homes for low-income people in Indiana.”
Talk about leadership by example, Carter is living proof of this.
Highlighting unfairness is another popular choice of IG users. One example is Cyntoia Brown, who has been serving a life sentence for the murder of a Nashville man in 2004.
Her case went viral recently on social media as people questioned, among other things, why she was tried as an adult and given a life sentence despite being 16 at the time. Brown’s childhood was marked by abuse and drugs, she was raped and forced into prostitution by a pimp, and ended up killing one of her clients in self-defence.
Now it’s reported that Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam is considering granting clemency to Brown which, for her supporters, is justified.
Here is Owen Whaley’s IG take on her case: “Brock Turner raped somebody and served three months in prison. Cyntoia Brown was kidnapped, made a sex slave, fought for her life and sentenced to 51 years without parole. This is what’s wrong with our justice system.”
These are just a slice or two of social media showing the conscience and thought process of users. If there is one thing I’d like to put on my IG or Twitter, it’s this — “Let’s have a no-Trump news day”.
That’s admittedly improbable with him facing many investigations. The focus will only heighten on his alleged misconduct before and after becoming president, if any of the allegations are proven true.
So do post your take on issues you think matter. Hopefully, it’s for the common good. May 2019 be better for all social media stakeholders. Will it be merrier or messier or both, only time will tell.
The writer is NST Convergence Editor (Foreign)