social media

Submitted by Claire Bernish via TheAntiMedia.org,

By now, we’ve all witnessed selective outrage in real time — a misdeed, tragedy, or other infuriating item blows up national headlines and almost immediately receives backlash in the vein of, ‘well, why isn’t anyone irate about ___ ?’ It’s as if society has developed not only an odd hypocritical corner on the market of concern, but a notable inability to impassion itself with more than one issue at once.

Social media can be a positive thing. It can help family stay connected, help old friends re-connect, and even introduce new friends. However, for all of the positives, social media can also be taken too far, and end up having quite a negative impact.

For example, it could lead to literally be addicted to one's smart phone, or even worse, social media could be used as a final "broadcast" for some that choose to take their own life.

Submitted by David Stockman via Contra Corner blog,

First there were seventeen. At length, there was one.

Donald Trump’s wildly improbable capture of the GOP nomination, therefore, is the most significant upheaval in American politics since Ronald Reagan. And the proximate cause is essentially the same. Like back then, an era of drastic bipartisan mis-governance has finally generated an electoral impulse to sweep out the stables.

Pakistan’s National Assembly (NA) has approved a draconian cybercrime bill named “Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill 2015” that will make it illegal for anybody to criticize the government on social media.  The controversial bill punishes those “sending text messages without notifying the receiver” or “criticizing government actions on social media.” The proposed bill would criminalize internet activity, stifle its growth and damage the economy while inducing an atmosphere of fear. Adios internet. Hello intranet.

A reader puts me on to this NPR Fresh Air interview with Nancy Jo Sales, who has a new book out about what social media does to young girls. Excerpts:

In the 2 1/2 years she spent researching her book, Sales interviewed more than 200 teenage girls around the country about their social media and Internet usage. She says girls face enormous pressures to post “hot” or sexualized photos of themselves online, and she adds that this pressure can make the Internet an unwelcoming environment.