Online "warfare" - where does the responsibility lie?

It's amazing how our lives have changed - largely as a result of technology.



I was just reading the Mail & Guardian article (http://www.mg.co.za/article/2011-01-21-mean-girls-get-meaner-online) on how social media is allowing mean girls to get meaner and it amazes me how things have changed. When I think back to my school days I can count the number of fights between girls on one hand - and those weren't even physical. Now it has become an almost daily occurrence and is also being executed in the pubic domain?



I believe in social media - it has served me well in building valuable networks, keeping up to date with content that is important to me and I get to manage my life more effectively by engaging with this content when I choose to do so. But to use this technology as a bullying tactic is scary - and it is not limited to children!



I personally believe the social media explosion has brought a lot of benefits, but also a tremendous responsibility.



From a business perspective, it has allowed individuals to create much broader networks, resulting in business opportunities that might not even have seen the light of day. It allows us to share information much faster and to a broader audience, it allows for cross-border brainstorming and creates and endless flow of communication.



However, the responsibility now lies with each individual to censor their communications. The M&G article refers to how social media has increased individuals' power to bully others in a public forum. The danger here is that the damage done is so much more extensive - every remark is public and forever etched on the web.



From a corporate perspective I have seen many organisations put policies in place around social media, but the responsibility still lies with the individual to ensure that they don't publish any potentially damaging or confidential information.



Even on a social level I have seen personal fights being taken into the public domain by adults - these can be a source of great entertainment for some, but for others it is potentially an extremely damaging experience, especially when private information is divulged.



So where do we draw the line? I believe individuals need to take a much greater responsibility for their online conversations. If you're comfortable saying it face-to-face, chances are that it is not suitable for online publishing.



Where there used to be a clear distinction between our "real" and "virtual" worlds, these lines are now blurred. If I had to analyse my Facebook friends and Twitter followers, they would consist of real friends, friends of friends, colleagues, business acquaintances, business people I respect and have a real interest in and more. So how do I decide what type of post is suitable for which platform and which is not? Quite the dilemma - and if we as adults struggle so much with that decision, imagine how difficult it must be for a child.



As the use of social media continues to grow, I'd go as far as to say that I foresee some element of social media etiquette being included in school curricula down the line. It won't be soon - but I believe strongly that our children would benefit tremendously from it. As they need to make the transition from childhood into adulthood and into a working environment, they also need to make the transition into responsible social media use.



Parents should play a much bigger role in ensuring that their children are aware of the repercussions of online "warfare". Damaging a person's reputation in such a public forum is not acceptable. This means that there is additional pressure on a parent to perhaps learn something new (if you haven't been bitten by the social media bug yet) and to understand its impact. Secondly, while you don't want to curb your child's interaction with the world, there needs to be some level of awareness around what your child is doing in the online sphere - yes, it is time consuming, but all parental activities are and it is in your child's best interest long-term that you do so.



I believe social media will continue to grow and will become increasingly important in our lives, therefore it is critical that our children are equipped to use these tools effectively and responsibly. We cannot possibly expect them to understand the impact of these tools if we don't invest the time ourselves to research and share that information.



So, as you teach your child right from wrong in general circumstances, it is becoming absolutely critical for parents to teach their children about the responsibility that goes along with being active online. Taking the time to teach your child the rights and wrongs of social media is becoming unavoidable in ensuring our children are well-rounded individuals who understand the consequences of their online actions. It could save a child's reputation - and, who knows, perhaps even a child's life.