It’s a question that likely dates back to the first time a member of the human species exercised his or her right to voice an opinion – At what point does freedom of speech go too far?The answer typically is found in that fuzzy gray area between inalienable rights and common sense.
Recent unrest in Egypt, and then in the UK pushed this burning question well into the limelight. In both of those nations, opinion shapers tapped into the power of social media to promote violence among masses of discontents.UK officials went so far as to blame popular services such as Twitter and Facebook for uniting protestors and inspiring the riots. Government honchos in that country, including Prime Minister David Cameron, even contemplated a ban on social media websites.
All of which brings up burning question #2 –Should social media be shut down or curbed when it’s used to inspire violence, as it was in Egypt and the UK?
What makes this question all the more difficult to answer is a certain surprise turn of events — within hours of the riots breaking out, social media actually was used to quell the waves of violence that it supposedly caused. Before long, the very services that were pegged as violence triggers were being hailed as factors expediting the post-riot cleanup. In effect, the so-called cause became the cure.
Clearly, social media can be a mega-force when it comes to inciting violence. Nevertheless, putting a clamp on it likely will trigger even more unrest. Freedom of the press, which now includes the growing number of internet channels, ranks very high on the list of rights worth defending.While certainly packed with potential for harm, this fundamental right is still our most powerful neutralizer of big government, big business, and an arsenal of special interests that typically aren’t in our interest.
Right now, all eyes are on social media. And for good reason. When it comes to impact, these services generally get a much higher potency rating than commercial media, which typically is in bed with armies of advertisers and other sponsors.
So I ask all of you – Should social media be controlled? Feel free to fire off your comments — the juicier the better. And, of course, if you have any questions about social media, be sure to send them our way as well. You can connect with The Young Company team at 949-376-8404 #205 or byoung@youngcompany.com. And be sure to follow us for the latest industry news and tips.