Social Media - Love it or Hate it?

So, Facebook has been in the news lately, because of data privacy (or lack thereof).  Stolen data, fake news, bots, election interference.....it has certainly shook up the world and given us all a wake up call that data on the internet is not really private unless you are tech-savvy enough to put up walls of all kinds to prevent your data from being stolen.

Facebook is now in the center of all this because of how big it's grown and how many users are using this platform.  Through it all, I have been amused by those who criticize it (ironically, on Facebook!) because ultimately, the user needs to share responsibility as well.  My philosophy when it comes to using Facebook has always been that whatever data I put in there is not confidential.  If in doubt, just don't put it in or share it.  Period.

For me, FB has always been an important way for me to remain connected with my family and friends.  For those of us who are world travelers, and global nomads, it is difficult when we miss out on birthdays and anniversaries, reunions and celebrations, and social media is the only way for us to feel like, in some small way, we are part of the happenings that go on at "home".

Does Facebook need to take responsibility for its lapses?  Absolutely.  But we should also take responsibility for what we put on the internet.  In the era of fake news and internet "trolls"*, we should also be smart about what we see and read on dubious websites.  Do we need regulation?  I certainly think so.  I also think those who spread fake news or impersonate celebrities should be held liable.  This, I think, will be the only way to stop the divisiveness that is spreading alarmingly throughout not just the USA, but also the world.

*definition from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary: "a person who intentionally antagonizes others online by posting inflammatory, irrelevant, or offensive comments or other disruptive content"