1-Minute Insight: The trouble with social media

People are not using it to be social

Instead of using Facebook to make new friends, or to stay connected with old friends and family, people are using social media as a platform to pontify their opinions and ideas with the aim of converting others to their point of view. Exacerbating the problem is their inability to accept that people can have, and are entitled to, different views.

I believe if we started treating others on social media how we would treat others in real life, much of the ills of social media will go away. Here are three 'rules' I advocate for building a kinder gentler Singapore:

1. Follow the Golden Rule. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Don’t do or say things that you wouldn’t want others to do or say to you.
2. Be Kind. Be nice to each other. Say positive things about others, and treat each other with love and respect.
3. Be Supportive. We all go through ups and downs in life. Sometimes a friend only needs a shoulder to cry on. Remember that everyone reacts to challenges differently, so don’t make assumptions about what it should or should not be.

So let’s go back to the original promise of social media, and start being social with each other again