Multimedia and informatization were all birthed with the intent for them to be solutions. They were made because we wanted to bridge gaps, streamline processes, foster knowledge and open gateways. And yet time tells us a different story. Some goals were effectively met but there are new wars that began to brew. The problem is do we know how to stop them or at the very least, fight them.
While there is no question how much multimedia and informatization have shaped us as much as we have shaped them, the dark side of our own doing remains critical. Critical because a lot of us have yet to acknowledge the existence of such threats and continue to remain clueless as to how the power of multimedia and informatization can be used against us.
Take for example social media empowerment. Social media has its ups and downs – many would agree to this. But as to what extent are those downs capable of destroying an individual, many wouldn’t know. Let me share a short anecdote which by no means can pass as data but could give light as to how our naivety in social media can put others including our loved ones in danger. A dear friend who is actively advocating for mothers and their rights has been reposting questions that were framed in such a way that you would assume the intent is to show how proud you are of your family. The post goes something like this:
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Hey Moms! Hands up if you are a proud mother! Answer the questions below and tag your friends. Let’s show the world how we are loud and proud of our kids! Have fun!
The name of my child is:
I gave birth at:
On this date:
His/her favorite foods are:
His/her favorite color is:
He/she goes to school at:
He/she and I’s favorite bonding activity is:
I love you, (name of child)!
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Seems sweet doesn’t it? Well a few weeks later after her post, she then announced that her youngest son who is 5 months old has a Facebook account which she did not create and has been sending messages to family and friends asking for financial help. Of course some replied thinking it was probably just her using her son’s account. To make it short, the fake profile was reported and my friend has finally stopped sharing private information online.
I’ve read through our reading selections and I’m ending this course with more knowledge waiting to be applied and multiplied. Though I know there is much, much more that we can gain if we look at multimedia and informatization with an open mind and give our best to always seek for the bigger picture – the wider vision, we must not get lost on our high hopes and idealism that we forget to recognize the myths and the warning signs.
Ignorance is bliss until it hurts us.
