Social Media Growth and Criticism
The development of the Internet in modern society, the growth of social media, and the emergence of various social platforms are leading the majority of people worldwide to participate in the digital world. This increase in social media service participation is being used in various forms due to personal or social needs, and the influence of social media is growing out of reach. This phenomenon has brought enormous benefits to people in the current era, however, at the same time, the fatal side effects that are occurring on digital platforms remain a challenge to be solved. In particular, as people’s activities and stay time on social media increase, the side effects of online bullying, and violent or sexual content being shared and distributed are severe (Bottaro, 2022). Considering that social media services are indispensable in modern society; these problems inevitably need solutions.
The double-edged sword of Social Media
Today, people can access the number of information and meet people in the world with a single click on Internet platforms. That is how much people think of social media as part of their lives. Social media platforms are helpful for building relationships and consensus among people, however, they also cause extreme harm to people through cyberbullying, and violent and sexual content. Cyberbullying on online media is an act of bullying and controlling victims in real time, mainly through social media, without the perpetrators directly facing them. Unlike offline, bullying on online media is possible regardless of time and place, therefore, so can leave the victim with mental severe pain (Bottaro, 2022).
“Cyber Bullys” by Adam Clarke is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
What are the problems that are occurring?
Various cases have been studied as a side effect of social media, but among them, cyberbullying is representative. Cyberbullying is broad in scope but not defined as a specific behaviour because everything on social media, from abusive language, harassment, denigrating, disclosing, and cyberstalking, belongs to cyberbullying, which is still being done in real time to someone using social media (Willard, 2007). Furthermore, in recent years, crimes in the form of uploading or transmitting sexual messages, photos, and videos without consent to social media are also increasing, reminding us once again of the seriousness (Flood, 2020). In addition to the act of directly distinguishing the perpetrator and the victim, violent content or sexual content that can be easily seen on Internet platforms has the potential to amplify violence for viewers.
How is it a serious situation?
Bullying on social media is differentiated from traditional bullying offline. Cyberbullying occurs in an online space that can presuppose anonymity, so face-to-face is not done directly. Since this cannot directly confirm the other person’s reaction, it is difficult for the perpetrator to confirm the degree of psychological anxiety and distress of the victim, which leads to a decrease in guilt (Mason, 2008). However, on the contrary, the anxiety that can be caused by the perpetrator who does not know who the victim is constantly increased, and the mental pain becomes more severe (Dudley, 2020). In particular, as mentioned earlier, malicious information distributed on digital platforms can be directly harmed by the victim individual, however, a large number of unspecified people can also be seen depending on the method. Furthermore, if these malicious acts are shared and spread between the platform and the platform, the pain suffered by the victim can be more than multiplied. These problems in digital platforms are more complicated than traditional bullying because they are difficult to cope with properly due to the nature of online, and technical problems are also intertwined. Especially for minors who are not adults, cyberbullying that occurs in online media is causing more serious problems because it is difficult for adults to notice. The characteristics of Bullying on the digital platform include the preservation, anonymity, constancy, speed, and spread of messages, which maximize the mental pain that the victim can feel (Nixon, 2014). Victims have a negative mindset to escape mental pain and are trapped in constant restraints such as lethargy, guilt, and self-criticism (Dudley, 2020). Another problem is that access to violent or sexual content, which is widely uploaded on online media, weakens the line between reality and virtuality, resulting in a growing number of dangerous ideas, such as moving content from virtual to reality (Thomas, 2016). In the same way, dangerous content that obscures the boundaries between the real world and the virtual world is creating potential criminals, moreover, providing false information or education to those who have encountered the content.
“Cyberbullying” by Diari La Veu is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
A Way to Overcome Side Effects in Digital Platforms
The most fundamental way to solve the negative aspects of digital platforms is to regulate them by law. Representatively, there is a method of control due to direct government intervention. For example, there is a case in the United States where cyberbullying is legislated as law. In the United States, the majority of states have laws on cyberbullying, online harassment and criminal sanction, and all states require preventive policies and reporting on cyberbullying (Cyberbullying Research Center, n.d.). Furthermore, it is promoting the establishment of professional education and manpower for cyberbullying. In addition to the government’s legal intervention, the method of approaching cyberbullying from an educational aspect is also used as an effective method. The difference is that this method is a method for prevention rather than a legal method enacted for the purpose of punishment (Smith, 2012) Through videos and educational programs related to cyberbullying, they educate not only about cyberbullying but also measures to protect themselves such as media education, civic awareness, and digital literacy. Another way to solve the problem raised is to approach it in terms of technology. A technological approach requires active tracking of cyberbullying on each digital platform. For example, it can be classified into a filtering program, a monitoring program, and a search and reporting program (Hinduja, & Patchin, 2009). These methods can prevent harmful effects such as tracking and deleting negative words used on platforms. Furthermore, if violent or sexual content is uploaded through monitoring, direct sanctions can be imposed. For example, there is a platform called Naver in South Korea, where a Korean athlete committed suicide after hearing malicious comments posted on the platform (Hyang, 2022). As a result, Naver completely eliminated the comment function in its sports category. Eliminating the comment function is an extreme method, but on the contrary, it is also a sure way to eliminate cyberbullying. In my opinion, this measure is also part of the above program. Furthermore, it is important to establish the right cyberculture in the long run. In order to penetrate the right cyberculture, it is important to have the right cyber consciousness of each citizen, and the development of educational activities at the private level is necessary. For example, posting positive Internet comments and using correct words are good examples. It should always be remembered that problems on the Internet are not the responsibility of anyone, but the government, institutions, the private sector, and individuals all care and have to fulfil their responsibilities.
(Google Africa, 2012)
Conclusion
In conclusion, with the development of the Internet, digital platforms are increasing more than people think, and people are using various platforms useful, however, it is true that there are countless people who abuse advanced technology. In order to solve problems that occur in the cyber, if systematically and organically connected to each other in various fields of law, education, technology, and culture, there will be great synergy in preventing and solving problems. Not only the government and institutions but also third parties around the victims need to work together. There will also be more digital platforms in the future. From the government’s point of view, a long-term plan to supplement the problem will have to be made, and institutions will also have to build safety nets through technical and educational aspects.
Reference List
Bottaro, A. (2022, May 2). The Rise and Consequences of Cyberbullying. Verywell health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/cyberbullying-effects-and-what-to-do-5220584
Cyberbullying Research Center. (n.d.). Bullying Laws Across America. https://cyberbullying.org/bullying-laws
Dudley, A. (2020, October 26). Effects of Cyberbullying On An Individual. Cyberwise. https://www.cyberwise.org/post/effects-of-cyberbullying-on-an-individual
Flood, M. (2020 January 6). Pornography has deeply troubling effects on young people, but there are ways we can minimize the harm. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/pornography-has-deeply-troubling-effects-on-young-people-but-there-are-ways-we-can-minimise-the-harm-127319
Google Africa. (2012, May 31). Cyber Bullying (UNICEF) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asTti6y39xI
Hyang, Y, S. (2022, February 7). Volleyball player Kim In-hyeok found dead. Korea JoongAng Daily. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/02/07/sports/volleyball/Kim-Inheok-Daejeon-Samsung-Bluefangs-Korean-volleyball/20220207125101692.html
Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W. (2009). Preventing cyberbullying: Top ten tips for educators. https://cyberbullying.org/Top-Ten-Tips-Educators-Cyberbullying-Prevention.pdf
Mason, K. L. (2008). Cyberbullying: A preliminary assessment for school personnel. Psychology in the Schools, 45(4), 323-348. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.20301
Nixon, C, L. (2014). Current perspectives: the impact of cyberbullying on adolescent health. Med Ther. https://doi.org/10.2147/AHMT.S36456
Thomas, S. (2016, October 7). A Virtual Life: How Social Media Changes Our Perceptions. TheChicagoSchool. https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/insight/from-the-magazine/a-virtual-life/
Willard, N. (2007). Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats: Responding to the Challenge of Online Social Aggression, Threats, and Distress, Champaign, IL: Research Press. http://beta.edtechpolicy.org/C32007/Presentations/Willard_Cyber/cbct0907.pdf