Social media is lively, but can also save lives

We cannot overreact when social media inundates us. The world today is no longer linear or singular in outlook. All kinds of images flow from different sources, including those with ulterior motives. What is good may appear to be bad and by that same token, good intentions can appear selfish and self-serving.

Everyone, especially public figures and politicians, is more exposed and more naked than ever before. Every one of us, including the leaders of the country, has to learn to adapt to this new phenomenon of overexposure.

Social media is also a useful tool. It allows the public to share information and promote good ideas and good deeds.

Politicians love it and that’s why successful leaders learn to use it to project the image they want the public to see. Social media therefore can be a double-edged sword and we need to handle it wisely so its benefits outweigh its negatives. That’s why I was somewhat shocked that at the height of the floods rampaging through my home state of Kelantan, there was a steady stream of news cautioning the public not to listen to or believe what they see or read on social media.

This message suggested that many people were tweeting irresponsible and false news and were out to discredit others. Even the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) joined the fray, with its chairman looking for four individuals who apparently falsely tweeted that the Manik Urai relief centre had collapsed.

A high-ranking military chief was also on the radio telling people to check the accuracy of information they received on social media before spreading them. He said the army had its priorities and if the information was incorrect, the army would have wasted time and resources instead of helping those really in need of help.

I wish these high-ranking officials in Putrajaya would spare a thought for many of us on the ground, helping out as much as we can because the situation is dire. If we have some information on the plight of villagers, we must assume it is correct.

How on earth are we to check the accuracy of the information? Whom do we ask during an emergency? If we turn out to be wrong, it’s not because we were deliberately trying to cast blame on the authorities or stymie their efforts.

If we say that there are 50,000 people who are stranded and who need help, we say so based on the best information available to us and to highlight the urgency of the situation. We cannot be 100 per cent accurate about the gravity of the situation or the number of victims involved, but what we report is in accordance with the information we have. The army should have other sources of information to corroborate these reports. They need not follow blindly whatever is being said on Twitter. Must everybody get involved in putting the right image to the higher-ups, even during a crisis?

Our leaders must treat the public with more understanding. Granted, there are people who spread false news, but the majority of Malaysians are concerned about the plight of their fellow citizens. They are being kind and generous and genuinely want to help.

This is not the time to punish the few who flout the regulations, but to show appreciation to the many who sacrifice their time and money to help. This includes those who risk going into the deep waters, and those who use social media to send out appeals and spread information.

There is the time to punish, and the time to show appreciation for the thousands who use their Facebook and Twitter platforms to warn, seek help and organise themselves so they can minimise the loss of life and property.

Now is the time for the MCMC to show appreciation to the public instead of scolding them. Kelantan will remember these volunteers and those who used social media to help the situation.

Queensland, Australia, had a terrible flood three years ago. Research carried out by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation found that during the crisis, social media was a vital tool in warning and bringing relief to thousands of flood victims.

Queensland emergency services and the population at large took full advantage of social media’s versatility to prepare for and combat the disaster. After the flood, Associate Prof Axel Bruns of the Queensland University of Technology said social media had emerged as a full-fledged response mechanism that helped to save lives.

It’s about time the nation remains focused on the good things people do, rather than casting aspersions and doubts on their good intentions.

Social media will never be cleansed to the satisfaction of those in power, not just in Malaysia but elsewhere. There will always be dirty tales to tell and doctored pictures to post. Some take it as their profession and are paid to tell and spread lies.

Take action against them by all means, but don’t go for the overkill. Remember that the bulk of users, the ordinary members of the public, are quite content to spread news, share their concerns and treat all Malaysians as family.

To all Twitter and Facebook users, I hope you will not be discouraged by the warnings from some quarters but will continue to use social media with responsibility. Enjoy your new tool. Empower yourself and contribute with more information so we can share them with others.

Just remember what Thomas Mann wrote in The Magic Mountain: “There are so many kinds of stupidity, and cleverness is one of the worst.”

Happy New Year.