Twitter - Friend or Foe?
Twitter has always been renouned for it's brilliant ways of linking people, fan-siting and social communication. But, recently, after reading the Tom Daley article about the boy who sent malicious messages to him, I am starting to question the fame of the site as being harmful to our community.
Of course it is great for society, always keeping people connected and seeing what your friends are up to. But what about the terror that they brings? Everyday, thousands of victims are forced to press the report button on the site to get that person done for harassing them. But, being a social networking site, does it not create the public humiliation of you feeling defeated by that person. People attempt to stick up for themselves, trying to show that they are not victim to these messages, but deep down inside they are still tearing away at the victim's heart.
Of course though, sometimes there is no humiliation at all. Sometimes, society sticks together to defeat the bully. Take Tom Daley's case for example. He struggled to come 4th place in the synchronized diving and yet he had harsh messages sent to him. As soon as that message was sent, and Tom published it to Twitter, thousands of supporters took their time to get @Rileyy_69 banned from Twitter. It showed the heart warmth of the community, the love that they all share and that they will not let one rat get away with it.
However, there are thousands of middle class citizens who are scrutinized to these horrific messages every single day. Not through choice, but because they don't have the fame to get a cry for help. So, they do what they can. They either stick up for themselves and try not to look stupid, or, they give in and press the dreaded report button which most would see as a sign of weakness. This is why I question the severity of Twitter's power. Is it just a site where people can communicate freely, or is it just a dark world, where people are made to feel tiny?
Don't get me wrong, I believe that Twitter is a wonderful idea. It has helped connect many of my family members and lost friends back together over the years, but, I am still sceptical of the harsh reality which thousands face everyday.
Either way, it did show one great thing with the Tom Daley case - societies, when wanting to, will stick together like a close-knit family.
Goodnight my friends,
x
Of course it is great for society, always keeping people connected and seeing what your friends are up to. But what about the terror that they brings? Everyday, thousands of victims are forced to press the report button on the site to get that person done for harassing them. But, being a social networking site, does it not create the public humiliation of you feeling defeated by that person. People attempt to stick up for themselves, trying to show that they are not victim to these messages, but deep down inside they are still tearing away at the victim's heart.
Of course though, sometimes there is no humiliation at all. Sometimes, society sticks together to defeat the bully. Take Tom Daley's case for example. He struggled to come 4th place in the synchronized diving and yet he had harsh messages sent to him. As soon as that message was sent, and Tom published it to Twitter, thousands of supporters took their time to get @Rileyy_69 banned from Twitter. It showed the heart warmth of the community, the love that they all share and that they will not let one rat get away with it.
However, there are thousands of middle class citizens who are scrutinized to these horrific messages every single day. Not through choice, but because they don't have the fame to get a cry for help. So, they do what they can. They either stick up for themselves and try not to look stupid, or, they give in and press the dreaded report button which most would see as a sign of weakness. This is why I question the severity of Twitter's power. Is it just a site where people can communicate freely, or is it just a dark world, where people are made to feel tiny?
Don't get me wrong, I believe that Twitter is a wonderful idea. It has helped connect many of my family members and lost friends back together over the years, but, I am still sceptical of the harsh reality which thousands face everyday.
Either way, it did show one great thing with the Tom Daley case - societies, when wanting to, will stick together like a close-knit family.
Goodnight my friends,
x