Cruz, Tricia Mae BA Political Science 3A

Science, Technology and Society

SocMed Today and in the Future

In this 21st century that people are moving with, life is somehow anchored with the
advent of science and technology, creating different innovations which gives the lives of the
people a comfort and ease. As this innovations and experiments continue to expand, it also tends
to cover up the traditional way of life of the people, from pen and paper to keyboards, from
playing freely outside to playing addictively on mobile, from riding in a bicycle or “kalesa” to
riding such fuel injected vehicles. These are only some of the tons of technological advancement
that we, people are enjoying. Provided that we are now used to cope up with this modernized
life, what is good about it is that we are able to learn more and think outside the box most
especially when people are already engaged in Social Media.
But why is social media essential nowadays? When people say social media, it is already
an online platform where people interact and connect with each other virtually. It is where most
people share their thoughts and opinions regarding their own lives, the people around them and
the issues that they are currently facing. This includes the Facebook, Messenger, Instagram,
Twitter, Pinterest and many more. It is bad if people use it in a negative way yet there are many
essentials that social media provides. One is that it serves as the widest platform in order to make
the distance of the people shorter, it provides ease in communication with the different people
from different parts of the world.
Other than that, during this pandemic, through social media, accessibility to education
became easier because it provides accessible books, lectures, notes and everything that is needed
to cater the need for education of the students. While in terms of economic, social media became
a bridge for e-commerce and paved a way for economy and business to upgrade into a more
innovative level. While in politics, it is one of the ways on how administrators and government
provide updates and information to different matters that concern public interest or common
good.
Moreover, in people’s day to day living, social media becomes a guide for the people
to be aware on what is already happening in the online world. As a gift for living, this serves
as medium for the people to freely express their sentiments about life, share their journeys and
it provides inspiration to many through the real-life stories that had been shared to many
people and it is where many people had already helped people in need. This happens when a
concerned citizen post someone in need and people share it gradually until such time that help
will be extended to that specific person.
Social Media provides comfortable and easy sharing of information and news yet there
are some who took advantage of it. When a reliable source posted something, trolls already
create such adding some spice to it or even decreasing the story leading to such
misinformation. This leads to a conflict wherein the less literate or fortunate ones will be
more prone to such fake news while those that are more knowledgeable, they will determine
and discover from what is through from what is not. The delivery of news through social
media is the same for the common people yet the way they receive and comprehend it will be
different.
4. As a student, how can you manifest being responsible in using social media? Perhaps you
can give concrete ways!
Now, with the rampant spread of fake news and misinformation, the youth of today are
already having a hard time dealing on how to determine what should be trusted and not. It also
gives confusion on what is good to do and what is not. But in order to overcome this
challenge, as a student, one must be responsible and wise-enough to think a million times
before taking an action, before clicking something, before posting something, before sharing
something. As an example, in Facebook, there is a headline stating “ABS-CBN had been shut
down,” now in order to become responsible in social media, you must see if the page where
the headline posted is reliable or not, second, open the article then try to read and understand
the content. After which, try to reflect if it is worth sharing or not, if your concern or opinion
regarding the issue will have a strong stand.
Another example of being a responsible netizen is when you see some suspicious post
that may already offend or violate the rights of some people, try to report it. After all there is a
report badge in social media to prevent some unnecessary or unwanted posts which provides
harm or danger to some. Next is when posting something, at least try to evaluate your post if
there are some foul languages and hurtful words, determine if you are already stepping down
into someone or not.
With all those aforementioned, it is safe to say that social media is both an enemy and
a friend at the same time. Enemy for it may be used by criminals to do unrightful actions such
as cyber libel and cyberbullying. And sometimes it provides some insecurities to other people
most especially if they compare what they saw in social media that is ideal and earned so
much praise and they compare it to their own lives. And it is where fake news can manipulate
the mindset of the people. But it is more of a friend because, it does not only provide an ease
in communication but it helps people to learn more, to discover more, to think outside a four-
corner room. Maybe it gave distant from the way we used to be but let us just think that is in
an upgraded level. Not only that, it serves already as your freedom wall most especially those
that feels alone, introvert people, shy to express themselves, it is where they can voice out
their sentiments in life. It is where they get such inspirations in order to reach their dreams in
life. Social Media is like strange friend where you can dump all your complaints and flaws yet
it will not judge you back.
Nonetheless, through the continuous using of social media responsibly, 10 years from
now, the development of technology will produce newer innovations and experimentations
that will cater the needs of the people and from that time, I insist that people will already be
responsible enough and be life-lesson oriented because they will already equip the lessons
from their mistakes, misuse and abuses of technology in the past. Like for example, if now,
they commit such mistakes and malfunctions in the creation of such innovations like failing
and harmful robots, after 10 years they will learn how to create it properly because by that
time through the continuous acquisition of knowledge through science and technology itself,
people will discover what should be done and what is needed to be done.