Today I was asked a question. “Given the speed with which negative and fake news spreads with social media, should we consider Facebook and other social media platforms as harmful and ban or control or restrain them?”

Here’s what I think Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik-tok YouTube they are all like tools which in themselves are not generally good or bad.

It is the way in which a tool is used and the intention of the various users of these social media tools and platforms that can be good or bad leading to significant consequences on either side.

Let’s understand this a bit deeper. Social media helps people get connected. The connection itself and the reasons for the connection could be good or bad.

Connecting with people having similar “constructive” hobbies, talents or needs can be a blessing, while connecting for resourceful, unethical, immoral objectives can be a problem for self, families, societies and even the world at large.

For example, connecting with people from far off geographies to discuss ideas, share opinions and learn in areas of social, political or technological importance with an intent to understand, learn or do good ( i.e. in the general direction of spreading positivity, care, concern and knowledge enhancement) is generally constructive. It helps the societies maintain harmony and promotes growth and well-being.

Connecting to people (strangers nearby or from far off places) with an intent to cheat, learn trickery or techniques to extract illicit or immoral benefits from a sensitive situation or to exploit vulnerable people by spreading fear, hatred, anxiety, is almost always destructive.

And both of these can be ( and are being ) achieved through these powerful tools – social media platforms.

Data collection ( including the use of high end technologies used by Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other social media/ media channels to extract the data), data storage and privacy are definitely concerning.

This extent of data collection can be a strong cause for adverse influence on the physical /mental safety and economic well-being of people.

Targeted advertising based on high end tech deployment by Facebook can be helpful for users as well as marketeers, but if the data breach happens ( which we know does happen), a lot about the preferences and vulnerability of people can be exposed to those with malaise intentions.

The lesser data collection on individual preferences and private affairs is done, the more it would be helpful in this context.

Similarly, creating viral posts can be for pure ( innocent , legal and ethical) amusement, or for deliberately soiling someone’s reputation through fake claims or for creating anxiety and unrest. Fake information can also be in the form of Facebook and Instagram posts that have been carefully modified to mislead.

Fund raising, similarly, can be for good or bad purposes and so can be selling products or services that help or harm others in the long run.

So how do we differentiate? How do we know whether the platform is being used for good or bad purposes?

When these social media businesses and their users ( like us) are faced with choices (and often the difficult ones about doing or not doing something, posting or not posting something) when using these tools, if the underlying motive is “harmony”, “care”, “well-being” and spreading “positive / feel good information ” then all of these social media tools ( Facebook, Tik-tok, Instagram, YouTube etc. ) can be the biggest gifts of our time.

If on the other side, the underlying guiding principles for the owners and the users of these social media tools (when faced with ethically and morally challenging situations) are “profits”, “money making”, “self-benefit at the expense of others” or outright motive of destruction / unrest, then these very tools start playing the role of dangerous destructive weapons. These tools with their global reach and ease of access are capable of not just breaking the societies into fragments, but fostering crime, developing hostilities , creating social unrest and even wars.

Self control, discipline in what we post, like, support and spread is , in effect, the key. If users of these platforms like, support and share certain ( constructive) types of information and not other ( destructive) types of things, businesses are often compelled to make decisions aligned to that direction.

For the owners of social media businesses, it should be a primary step to weigh the pros and cons of their decisions in the light of long term consequences for the people, societies and the world.

What do you think ?