Thai social-media users need to grow up in 2016

[rooster59]

Thai social-media users need to grow up in 2016

BANGKOK: Despite a flawed start and more challenges ahead, maturity is a reasonable target

We didn’t know how creative Thai people were in telling and creating jokes until the social media came along. Neither did we realise the tenacity and scale of hyperactivity of the political animals in all of us until Facebook was found to be a perfect channel to let off steam. And we all have all the online tools to thank for rejuvenated friendships, activated volunteering spirit and quick mobilisations of help when someone urgently needs it.

To say that Thais took to the social media like ducks to water suggests we are on the right track and that there is little room for improvement. In fact, our social-media use has been quite flawed and there is so much more that we can and should do to make it more worthwhile. Thai users are another year older, and while selfies and vacation pictures will remain something irresistible, 2016 must be hoping to see a degree of maturity from us. And here's what we can do, apart from clicking "like" with wild abandon and posting photos of ice cream seven days a week.

First, it’s time to take a big step up ethically. We have all learned that what was meant for the eyes of just a few friends can end up going viral. It's all right if a silly baby clip does, but when someone's reputation, privacy and mental state are involved, prudence must be exercised. Last year saw a large-scale intrusion of privacy by both mainstream and social media when a well-known actor fell seriously ill. The "ethics" issue sounds difficult, but there is one easy trick: Before posting, sharing or forwarding anything that concerns somebody else, we should ask ourselves if we would still post, share or forward it if that person were our loved one.

Second, social-media users can greatly supplement the conventional media. This, however, shall not violate the ethical principles. There are issues in the mainstream media that can be picked up and pursued. Remember that professional journalists are not scientists or doctors. Information from people who really know technical aspects of an issue is extremely helpful. Knowledge provided by social-media users can go a long way towards improving conventional journalism as a whole.

Third, knowledge-sharing can be intensified, and in the right way. There have been cascades of how-to and you-surely-don't-know-this messages circulating online each day. The only problem is that sometimes the information is inaccurate or even cooked up. It will do users no harm at all if they hold onto some "valuable information" just a bit longer and do their own research before passing it on.

Last but not least, social-media users will become an integral part of a new economic platform - online businesses - so they must play a responsible role in the development of this landscape, which could drastically change how the world conducts trade. Next year will see a big growth in online transactions, and despite all the promises, the road might be quite bumpy. Successful online businesses can democratise activities that have long been dominated by rich and powerful corporations.

Online business is already a big trend, but for it to become a useful status quo, it will need all the help it can get from the social networks.

Thai social-media users might still be comparative rookies, but 2016 will demand greater responsibility, originality and understanding of the brave new world.

There have been flaws, but they are a part of growing up, and all the evidence shows that, when it comes to Thais and social media, true maturity is achievable.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Thai-social-media-users-need-to-GROW-UP-in-2016-30275673.html

-- The Nation 2015-12-26

[Somtamnication]

Jesus, what is The Nation smoking over yonder?

The problem is, that social media users have grown up. They see / video / pic / comment on everything. It is being used for all sorts of reasons, good and bad.

Now, if only The Nation can grow up.......

[Reigntax]

Nothing wrong with social media users except the military government provides them with so much ammunition to use against them.

If only the government were more intelligent but thats probably hoping for too much.

[DrTuner]

Grow up, as in take to the streets in the real world?

[WhizBang]

This is 'news'?

For the most part it could be called common sense. The real problem is when the 'authorities' over react (or even react at all, for that matter) to what people post on social media. If they ignored it all, it would quickly be replaced by the next social media hot topic du jour.

The real problem is that these 'authorities' are far to sensitive to anything that shows them up in a bad light. That and Thailand's moronically stupid defamation and libel laws.

[55Jay]

Social media is a great platform to let off steam.

[Snig27]

Some old fool has just discovered the internet.

"Online business is already a big trend, but for it to become a useful status quo, it will need all the help it can get from the social networks"

"Last but not least, social-media users will become an integral part of a new economic platform - online businesses"

[trogers]

Yeah Yeah...whatever

Send me a line...

[tbthailand]

given the current situation, it is particularly appropriate, if perhaps accidentally, to end the editorial referencing a "brave new world".

[bangrak]

It would not at all have been realistic to ask the social-media users (in general) to become 'adult', so better indeed to invite (many of) them to grow up, out of the anal stage (a bit)...

[Wilsonandson]

Social media users need to grow up.

Wise up not grow up. Freedom of speech will not be quashed. The current government is pushing its citizens to use vpn's, line groups, facebook users won't use their real account only an account set up in ab internet cafe, etc. There is always a way to post what you feel. You cannot control the internet. The younger generation is miles ahead of the older. They will find a way. What the government fails to understand most of all. Is it is paranoid about social media and most Thai's don't give a damn or even look at the local news, let alone comment about it. They need to get that into there old heads. Your not interesting to the younger generation. They are all playing literally on the net. They are not plotting some James Bond movie scenario. Get over yourselves government, you bore us.

[Lupatria]

I miss the underline in this article:

"Send from my cell on somebody's i-pad during AA"

[jaywalker]

Nothing wrong with social media users except the military government provides them with so much ammunition to use against them.

If only the government were more intelligent but thats probably hoping for too much.

I was just sitting here thinking how much ammo this junta is feeding comedians like John Oliver. The guy could make a career out of talking about Thailand.

BTW, he's Persona Non Grata in Thailand. Look him up on Youtube.

To be fair though, he does a great job of mocking governments all over the world.

[jaywalker]

Social media users need to grow up.

Wise up not grow up. Freedom of speech will not be quashed. The current government is pushing its citizens to use vpn's, line groups, facebook users won't use their real account only an account set up in ab internet cafe, etc. There is always a way to post what you feel. You cannot control the internet. The younger generation is miles ahead of the older. They will find a way. What the government fails to understand most of all. Is it is paranoid about social media and most Thai's don't give a damn or even look at the local news, let alone comment about it. They need to get that into there old heads. Your not interesting to the younger generation. They are all playing literally on the net. They are not plotting some James Bond movie scenario. Get over yourselves government, you bore us.

On the other hand, they are best buddies with China.

Have a look at their censorship efforts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH8EYvnlDxQ

[rubl]

How the internet lied to you in 2015

By Diana Rusk BBC News

27 December 2015

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-35051618

[Squeegee]

Some old fool has just discovered the internet.

"Online business is already a big trend, but for it to become a useful status quo, it will need all the help it can get from the social networks"

"Last but not least, social-media users will become an integral part of a new economic platform - online businesses"

Intellectually retarded garbage like this is precisely why walls of text from The Nation or any other Thai source is a complete waste of time to bother reading. Thailand as a whole needs to grow up because almost nothing any of them say is worth listening to. The only time one listens to Thai chattering classes is if one's up for a laugh, a bit like choosing to watch fail videos on YouTube.

[ratcatcher]

Nothing wrong with social media users except the military government provides them with so much ammunition to use against them.

If only the government were more intelligent but thats probably hoping for too much.

"If only the government were more intelligent but thats probably hoping for too much."