Let's go back for a while to my weeks and nights in Edward Boyle and Brotherton library in Leeds. I hate myself for not remembering the names that I have quoted when I wrote analysis and critics towards the new media. But here is the thing, what happened to the media and people today are getting more and more uncontrollable and that the freedom of the information access is now inevitably super widen. I came to a thought where the people are obliged AND MUST understand how influential media are nowadays. To comprehend how the media work and how they contribute an impact to wide society, people then need to filter any information they are meaning to disseminate or retrieve. In short, you may read anything that you want; wrong, false, stupid, annoying, funny or brilliant content in media BUT to forward it and give any thoughts or concern about it IN PUBLIC requires bigger responsibility hence further consideration is necessary.
There are three types of reader and forwarder; the impulsive, the analyst, and the ignorant. The first type are those who are still laughing to a picture that they're looking at 9gag while they press the "repost this" button and let the people who follow them (not necessarily "friends" like in Facebook) see the same picture and careless about their interpretation towards it. The second one, rather careful than the first one, is them who mind to re-check the validity and reliability of the media content that they're reading before reposting it. Yes, it takes several scenario and assumptions inside their head before displaying their thoughts upon one matter, wise? Not really, because again, it is not merely senders' role to perceive and interpreted the message that they deliver. The last one, mostly is this group of people who think that "people are stupid" so why bother spreading things that public may not understand or even misuse them. They are a level higher than the analyst, but they don't bother to share anything because their main objective is to enrich their own knowledge and perspective.
From these three types, the latter seems he safest and the best way to respond to information. But what if everyone IS ON THIS LEVEL? A mess, isn't it? Silence is not the answer since some people are willing, and obliged to report something. Again, this is contextual to what extent is the information that needed to be shared and reported? To what purpose is a news being broadcasted? Complicated.
Beyond the complexity of news, and information dissemination an distribution, I would like to reiterate the role of receiver, the people in viewing the information they are reading. It is necessary to acknowledge and re-think about what we read or watch, moreover how much would we really want and will re-post it to wider receiver? I believe it doesn't take a genius to know that disturbing pictures like war victims, rapist and open wounds of people with disease are INAPPROPRIATE to be viewed by anyone unless for certain reason. Rumors and provocative postings about racism and violence are neither a good topic to be laughed at among your peers, and so on.
So from now on, let's use our logic and a little bit of sympathy to think twice(or thrice) before reposting any inappropriate and untrue information, anywhere, especially our social media accounts. Information are there to be viewed, use accordingly and spread responsibly, be wise and happy surfing!
Cheers!
