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A recent article by Jill Stephenson, ‘What are universities for?’, and a follow-up piece by Bill Sinclair, ‘Why
is academia allowed to swan serenely on?’, have provoked a variety of
robust responses…
[1]
War in the ivory tower
Simon Smith, Professor David Jackson and Bernie Cohen
[2]
The ‘long summer holiday’?
You must be joking
says Jill Stephenson
[3]
Journalists and academics have very little in common
Joe Crawford
Joseph Kony, still at large despite social media
‘Social media has revolutionised society’. But what does that mean? And does our proclamation of the power of the online world make us better people?
Social media has become a powerful tool for the lazy activist and the part-time friend. It gives a voice to the already over-represented and encourages us to look more at the actions of others than at the actions of ourselves.
I don’t believe that social media has revolutionised society. It is an introduction to new people, ideas, political movements and cultures. It is easier than it has ever been to keep in contact with those who touch us. It has become yet another private medium in which capitalism can consume us, and some would be lost without it. But it is merely an introduction to what should be, but often isn’t, the rest of the story.
This doesn’t mean that social media couldn’t or shouldn’t achieve more; merely that, for our online profiles to become more meaningful, we must first evaluate our offline activities.
Last year the American charity Invisible Children launched a social media campaign to oust African warlord Joseph Kony. They published a video online that generated support from 3.7 million people, and became the fastest growing viral video of all time. Kony is still at large and a coalition of NGOs working in the area claimed last December that progress towards achieving the core objectives of the UN-led campaign against Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army had been slow and had left the situation on the ground largely unchanged. This is because international genocide, the recruitment of child soldiers and the occupation of civilians cannot be addressed in the three seconds that it takes to repost a video. It takes diplomacy, patience in the face of opposition, and commitment.
Social media is an introduction. The hand-picked images and phrases that we share with those who know us should offer a glimpse into the best versions of ourselves, of humanity, yet it rarely does. Social media encourages jealousy, narrow-mindedness and apathy.
Just like print or web media, social media does have the power to affect others. And, just like the multiple media outlets we surround ourselves with, we should start to think of our offline profiles, and how they impact on those around us.
Ask yourself this. If you were to be forced to disconnect from social media tomorrow, how many friends would you have left? Real friends that you share your life with? That you are ready to support when they ask, not just when they display their suffering or success online? How many? Five, 10, 15?
Social media has made connecting with others and ideas more efficient. But I can’t help but feel that the last thing this world needs is another time-saving option, freeing us to work longer hours, spend less time with those who need us, and expose us to quick solutions to big problems. By its very nature the efficiency of social media to provide us with so much personal information about those around us only masks the true scantiness of intimacy.
In terms of ideas, social media has engaged many who may otherwise feel excluded from political debate. I’m addicted to current affairs, and ashamed to say that I learned about many world events from checking my facebook feed. But how many of those who re-tweeted news stories about the recent chemical weapon attack in Syria then donated money for humanitarian relief? How many of those who criticise political decisions actually exercise their right to vote?
Human beings are capable of truly amazing things. The civil rights movement, the global female suffrage campaigns and the first-ever international weapons treaty are all examples that should motivate us to care for our fellow man – not simply to click a few buttons, switch off our laptops and forget.
Social media is an introduction. But there must be a greater involvement in the rest of the story. We must support our friends rather than simply ‘liking’ their status. We must educate ourselves rather than thoughtlessly reposting and we must engage with the world and respect our place in it. Any tool that occupies such a large proportion of our lives must be morally accountable, and for too many the online and offline worlds are not connected.
I am extremely lucky to have supportive friends and a loving family. I have witnessed true kindness and been inspired by humanity. The contribution of those around me to the person I have become, and who I try to be for others, is something that I try to understand and promote. But it is also something that will never be seen on social media.
Lesley Warren, who works for Children in Scotland, presented this award-winning paper at the UK Third Sector Young Thinker of the Year event organised by the SR team
