Ah…2018. A new year for social media. New posts, new tweets, new videos, new pictures, new comments.
The truth is, this year has started with a controversial, Black Mirroresque bang for us social media users.
On January 1st, 2018, while we were saying goodbye to 2017 and welcoming 365 new days, Youtube User Logan Paul posted a video on Youtube that will forever be remembered as "one of those moments" in social media and most likely history.
I am not here to comment on the content of the video, provide Logan's life story, or tell you about how disgusted I was when I learned about it. However, the difference in approaches and ways in which social media users responded to the video should be brought to our attention.
On one hand, and perhaps the most surprising, several users across social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram spoke in defense of Logan Paul, noting that people make mistakes and that the intentions behind the video were misinterpreted.
On the other hand, the amount of backlash across social media platforms was both incredible and, honestly, very much expected. Users expressed their anger towards Logan's decision to upload the video, Youtube's apparent lack of concern, and users who defended Logan.
A few other things have happened since January 1st. The video was deleted by Youtube, although it is important to point out that it made the Youtube "trending charts". Logan released an apology video shortly after the case and has recently released another related video; both have had similar, polarized responses across social media.
Lets think aside for a second. We live in a world driven by technology and social media. More and more people from all ages across countries are quickly gaining access to social media platforms.
In consideration of this thought and the Logan case, we need to start questioning ourselves and each other differently.
The Logan case made it difficult for many of us to process the following questions: how far can we go? Where is the humaneness in our world? Why should we care?
I do not have the answers to all of these questions, but I believe that we should care. This case, among many others, has proven the power of social media platforms and communities, from both sides of the coin. It is amazing to see how a Tweet or a Youtube video can cause such a discussion over days, weeks, months, and even years.
Ethics should not be undermined in our technology-driven world. Rather than providing you with a boring, dictionary definition of ethics, lets talk about applying ethics to our technology.
We need to start thinking about the content and posts that we share in platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Have you ever gotten one of those "view your memories" messages on Facebook and asked yourself, "wow, why did I post that four years ago?", well, it seems that Logan asked himself, "why did I post that video an hour ago?".
Next time we write a comment on someone's picture or a response to a comment in a video on Facebook, lets take a minute longer. Lets think about our values, intentions; about what we are saying or doing and why. Lets think about our ethics.
Or "A human without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon the world". Albert Camus is one of my favorite authors, I strongly recommend checking out The Plague and The Rebel.
The truth is, this year has started with a controversial, Black Mirroresque bang for us social media users.
On January 1st, 2018, while we were saying goodbye to 2017 and welcoming 365 new days, Youtube User Logan Paul posted a video on Youtube that will forever be remembered as "one of those moments" in social media and most likely history.
On one hand, and perhaps the most surprising, several users across social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram spoke in defense of Logan Paul, noting that people make mistakes and that the intentions behind the video were misinterpreted.
A few other things have happened since January 1st. The video was deleted by Youtube, although it is important to point out that it made the Youtube "trending charts". Logan released an apology video shortly after the case and has recently released another related video; both have had similar, polarized responses across social media.
Lets think aside for a second. We live in a world driven by technology and social media. More and more people from all ages across countries are quickly gaining access to social media platforms.
In consideration of this thought and the Logan case, we need to start questioning ourselves and each other differently.
The Logan case made it difficult for many of us to process the following questions: how far can we go? Where is the humaneness in our world? Why should we care?
I do not have the answers to all of these questions, but I believe that we should care. This case, among many others, has proven the power of social media platforms and communities, from both sides of the coin. It is amazing to see how a Tweet or a Youtube video can cause such a discussion over days, weeks, months, and even years.
Ethics should not be undermined in our technology-driven world. Rather than providing you with a boring, dictionary definition of ethics, lets talk about applying ethics to our technology.
We need to start thinking about the content and posts that we share in platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Have you ever gotten one of those "view your memories" messages on Facebook and asked yourself, "wow, why did I post that four years ago?", well, it seems that Logan asked himself, "why did I post that video an hour ago?".
Next time we write a comment on someone's picture or a response to a comment in a video on Facebook, lets take a minute longer. Lets think about our values, intentions; about what we are saying or doing and why. Lets think about our ethics.
Or "A human without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon the world". Albert Camus is one of my favorite authors, I strongly recommend checking out The Plague and The Rebel.
Hey Stefan.
ReplyDeleteYou talked about a very important topic in a highly-socialized, technology-ruled world today. The storm brought by Logan's video is a reflection of impact the social media could invent, is as much as the benefit it can give us. In our real life, we follow the ethic that is determined as the result of over hundred years of human practice. However, in the cyber world, there is the new ethic, and it tells you to challenge some parts of the real world's ethic, because on social media platforms, whoever gains more attention wins, even if you have to broke the rule of the game.
Three months ago, a famous Chinese streamer cheated while playing a popular multiplayer video game PUBG, and denied that he ever did so. Facing criticisms on several social media and strong evidence of him acting cheating performance, he still insisted on being innocence, and now he is continuing his game streaming.
Hi Qi, thank you for your comment. That is a way to put it, it seems that the cyberworld has transformed or develop a new set of ethics.
DeleteBy the way, that is a interesting reference. I am familiar with PUBG (I play Fortnite) and other video games so I was able to relate to the example.
Hi Stefan,
ReplyDeleteYour topic really impressed me. I googled the news and videos of this Logan's case after reading your post. There is no doubt that Internet gives many people different ways to be "successful ". However, those people who run self- brands should cherish their brands more than the others. They are responsible to what they say and post. As you said, "Ethics should not be undermined in our technology-driven world. "
We must say that we should take it seriously.
Hi Meng, thank you! I was also impressed by yours. I can only picture to reaction the news and videos; I was shocked when I saw it. As you say, ethics is encompassed by responsibility. In this case, online or cyber ethics need to be accompanied by a sense of responsibility, and this includes what is said and posted. Thanks for the comment!
DeleteStephan, I thought your post really related well to the first chapters in Groundswell. It also resonated with me directly as there have been times when I question our overall morales, values and ethics on social media. We all use it and love it but not all of the content will be welcomed by all. I guess that is the reality in which we now live in.
ReplyDelete