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How far is going too far on social media?

ASINA PORNWASIN
@lekasina July 11, 2015 1:00 am

BANGKOK: -- A HOT TOPIC this week online proved that social-media etiquette and journalistic ethics should be a top priority in Thailand.

The issue involved the saga of two celebrities - singer Pakin "Tono" Khamwilaisuk and actress Pattaratida "Tangmo" Patcharaveerapong.

It all kicked off on Monday night, when Paeza Pichaipusit (paezaa_pb) posted photographs and a video clip on Instagram of the actress in a hospital emergency room being treated for allegedly overdosing on sleeping pills. The clip, captioned "I now believe my friend really worships love … so much so that she could trade her life for Tono", immediately went viral.

And as soon as users began pressing "like", "share" or "comment", other media jumped on the story and began spinning it for public consumption, which is when the subject of social media etiquette and journalistic ethics came up.

Banyong Suwanpong, a member of the Thai Journalists Association's ethics committee, said on Facebook that Pattaratida's friend had crossed the line by posting such photographs and clips, adding that though it was done out of goodwill, Paeza obviously did not realise that he had hurt his friend.

However, the question of other media, especially those in the entertainment industry, who grabbed these photos and clips and re-broadcast them on their news channels was totally different.

Even though Pattaratida is a public figure, spreading improper photographs and clips of her via mass media like this is likely to aggravate her distress, he said.

In a post on the Journalism Ethics Facebook page (www.facebook.com/jr.ethics) under the topic "Taking photos in hospital vs legal issues", Banyong raised several pertinent issues.

He reminded people that according to Article 7 of the 2007 National Health Act, a patient's personal information cannot be disclosed under any circumstances - not even under the 2007 Information Act. In addition, he reminded people that Article 9 of the National Health Act specifies that health information remains confidential under all circumstances until instructed otherwise. The punishment for violating this law is six months in prison and/or a fine of Bt10,000.

Also media outlets that picked up and re-posted online photographs and clips showing Pattaratida being treated in hospital might be considered as having violated the Computer Crimes Act.

On Tuesday, the actress issued a statement, apologising to the hospital for her friend's mistake. The following day, Pakin delivered a statement, blaming himself for the drama, saying this happened because he announced on stage that he was single again and said he wanted his ex to be strong and that he did not intend to hurt her.

While he was delivering this statement, @Ajboom tweeted: "At 5.22pm, there are more than 70,000 viewers on #ThaiRathTV's YouTube channel. Social media timelines are flooded with scenes of Pakin's press statement, with thousands of people watching."

The level-headed sort responded to this with sarcasm, saying this story had become more of a national agenda than the severe drought that has hit the country, while some users opted for mimicry by creating illustrations of world leaders intently watching the singer give his statement.

Though this story has been a hot topic all this week, it will soon be replaced with the latest issue. However, the issue of online etiquette and journalism ethics will remain a controversial point for a long time to come.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/How-far-is-going-too-far-on-social-media-30264233.html

-- The Nation 2015-07-11

The sicial medias can go indefinetly, but in Thailand the military junta is lurking in the shadows. That keeps normally people concerned. They do not dare to speak free.

Facebook and other big parts should plan different in the future, and I`m sure they are.

Thailand has no journalistic integrity. No fact checking, no fair an unbiased reporting. Merely sound bites, poorly translated, an printing anything that supports a popular government agenda/

There's that strange word again, ' ethics '.

There's that strange word again, ' ethics '.

I had a bit of a chuckle when I read that line that included "journalistic ethics".

And is there such a thing as social-media etiquette ?

I am confused?

Are we talking about social media or journalistic ethics here?

'Banyong Suwanpong, a member of the Thai Journalists Association's ethics committee, said on Facebook that Pattaratida's friend had crossed the line by posting such photographs and clips, adding that though it was done out of goodwill, Paeza obviously did not realise that he had hurt his friend.'

Social media postings are not bound by journalistic ethics - even if the post refers to a famous person.

On its most basic level lets explain this to Banyong - who clearly doesn't see where his job ends.

• If Kim Kardashian wants to post a picture of her assets online that up to her and her legion of retardo followers.
• If Kanye wants to post that same pic- That's an issue for Kim to address with Kanye in private
• If a gang of journalists hide camera in a bathroom for the same shot - That's the line, right there.

I once posted a rude remark concerning Yingluck. The backlash I received from this community ensures I will never post anything similar again. Now, if I had been sitting at a bar having an afternoon aperitif and spoken the exact same thing, I believe there would have been a chuckle, perhaps some discussion, and that would have been that. In either case, my idea was not illegal, and some may have found it distasteful, but we're discussing social media here.

I believe social forums should be self regulating. Look at what just happened at Reddit - Ellen Pao tried censoring a forum that touts its open policies and promptly got fired. Now, if you post or support posts of an illegal nature, then your media community should come together and reprimand and if necessary remove you from that forum. The problem is that social media knows no country boundaries, so anybody sharing their ideas need to respect all nations' laws.

Think before you ink!

I once posted a rude remark concerning Yingluck. The backlash I received from this community ensures I will never post anything similar again. Now, if I had been sitting at a bar having an afternoon aperitif and spoken the exact same thing, I believe there would have been a chuckle, perhaps some discussion, and that would have been that. In either case, my idea was not illegal, and some may have found it distasteful, but we're discussing social media here.

I believe social forums should be self regulating. Look at what just happened at Reddit - Ellen Pao tried censoring a forum that touts its open policies and promptly got fired. Now, if you post or support posts of an illegal nature, then your media community should come together and reprimand and if necessary remove you from that forum. The problem is that social media knows no country boundaries, so anybody sharing their ideas need to respect all nations' laws.

Think before you ink!

"so anybody sharing their ideas need to respect all nations' laws."

That is not very practical as it means compliance with the laws of the most restrictive and repressing nations on earth like North Korea.

Sounds like Yono is another goon but with money.

Who is he anyway?

Posting made in error

doesnt help when you have a lot of people with extremely childish attitudes/outlooks and think online posts are a major part of their lives along with likes. If there was common sense here a lot of this would be avoided but that would require good education and a brain capable of reasoning, something missing in a lot of cases.

Social media ... More like Social Disease --- and that Word "viral" make me gonna puke in my mouth ...

The fact.that every paragraph in this article is made with a "could, might or maybe", proved how very badly Thai laws are.written.

The line is clearly defined. Say only things that people like and that enhance their character. Simple really