Reliance on social media leads to antisocial outcomes
By Sid Roberts / Herald Forum
We get much of our informa0on and news today from sensational social media and online news outlets. Frequently this type of communica0on is effective only in terms of the perception it projects. The perception seems to be primary. The facts seem to be only of secondary importance.
My own thought is that this situation isn’t for the better. Factual and honest news simply can’t compete with sensational media and instant perceptions. There was a time when one could trust most of the news outlets, and the sources for news were typically reliable. There were also ethical standards and practices. Today, not so much.
While there is some good in social media, this medium is driving many false narratives and is doing much damage in our world. For instance, the attack on our nation’s capital on Jan. 6 2021; while nestled in the hubris of the former president, it was obviously fueled by the falsity on social media. Those who aren’t critical thinkers seem to be easily fooled.
Instead of technology helping us socialize, the narrative has often become a perception-driven life. People work hard at managing this artificial online persona. It seems to be all that matters. The selfie photo is an example of how distorted and self-focused social media has become.
https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/forum-reliance-on-social-media-leads-to-antisocial-outcomes/
