By Mabi Azefor Fominyen,
Lately, I have been asking myself so many questions in relation to the content that people put on social media platforms !
Bloody!
Painful!
Crazy occurrences!
Corpses!
Accidents!
Altercation!
Abuse!
Extreme acts of violence!
..................................................the list can go on!
Seriously! I just can't understand the motives behind such!
Perhaps that is why I am very concerned about the impact this could have on other people and on the world at large.
Several years back while I studied Journalism and Mass Communication, our lecturers often reminded us of the role that the media and media men and women ought to play in society! They cautioned us about staying factual in spite of the quest to give a scoop or breaking news! They enjoined us to stay away from sensational journalism. They reminded us of how content mattered to the target audience or target public. Above all, they preached responsible journalism and the strict respect of the norms and ethics of the profession, irrespective of personal interest; "for as media men and women you all would contribute towards either building or destroying a society as a result of how you gather, handle and dissemination information". They often reminded us about ACCURACY!
God knows as a Journalism and Mass communication student back then in the 90's, I went through some of the finest and dedicated lecturers in the likes of Professor Enoh Tanjong, Dr. George Ngwa, Mr. Asonglefack Nkemleke, Dr Henry Muluh, Mrs. Ndoh Bertha, Dr: Che Tita and many others who were keen on teaching the younger ones, training and sharing their vast knowledge and experiences hitherto acquired in the field of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Fast forward to today's world where the internet and social media platforms have become a part of our daily reality.
I am somewhat lost when I come across some videos and pictures; posted, shared and liked on social media. I am even so appalled at the thought that, because of the strong urge that some people have these days, to take pictures and videos some have become insensitive to the pain and hurts of others.
No norms......... , no ethical considerations, no human feelings...., no concern in relation to probable consequences and the implications of such pictures/videos once posted on social media platforms....... all of these seemingly do not matter these days.
And so it is common place to come across a video posted on Facebook in which two elderly ladies are fighting in the village over a slight misunderstanding yet the person filming is laughing out loudly as the camera rolls.
A teacher beating up a nursery school kid and someone is standing by , watching and filming then clicks and shares on Facebook a few minutes afterward , worse still, at the expense of a baby who has just been physically abused.
A student who is stabbed in school by a fellow school mate , rushed to the hospital for immediate medical care and a hospital staff pulls out a phone and starts to film a helpless student as he gradually dies from the injuries sustained when he was stabbed.
What has happened that human beings have suddenly become so insensitive to the pain and suffering of others?
Is it the constant quest for one minute of fame or just the world in which we live in today ?
Somebody help!
