Social media and other newsy matters

LIFESTYLE

Marfuka is a fictional character who enjoys a good yarn. He tells stories that capture his life from when he could remember as a small boy to his adult life now closing in on the 60s. There is a twist though as some of these accounts can be tweaked as he juggles reality and his own imagination on what life should be. 

THE advent of social media has really changed the way information is being disseminated in this country.
Like in everything in life there are pros and cons when something new is introduced to our daily routines.
Social media can relay information in a much quicker time frame than the traditional modes of communication that we have been accustomed to. Social media feeds off the fast-evolving digital landscape where creativity and communication habits are adjusted to fully utilise this new trend.
Here are some excerpts from the internet we’d like to share to best explain the subject.
Social media emerged as a response to our innate desire to connect, share, and express. Its roots trace back to the early days of the internet, where platforms like USENET and Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs) allowed users to engage in discussions, share information, and build virtual communities. These primitive forms laid the groundwork for what would later blossom into the interconnected web we know today.
Social media encompasses a diverse array of interactive technologies that facilitate content creation, sharing, and aggregation.
User-generated content: At the heart of social media lies user-generated content—text posts, photos, videos, and interactions—that fuels the digital conversation.
Profiles and networks: Users create profiles on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, connecting with others and forming intricate networks.
Communal activity: The term “social” implies a user-centric approach, emphasising platforms as facilitators of human networks. These webs of individuals enhance social connectivity, bridging geographical gaps.
Mobile accessibility: Social media services extend to mobile devices, allowing seamless engagement through apps on smartphones and tablets.
Impact of social media
Communication: Social media transcends borders, enabling real-time communication. Families separated by oceans exchange messages, friends share life updates, and strangers connect over shared interests.
Information dissemination: News, trends, and ideas spread like wildfire. Whether it’s a breaking news story or a viral meme, social media amplifies information.
Personal branding: Individuals curate their online personas, showcasing talents, passions, and achievements. LinkedIn serves as a professional canvas, while Instagram celebrates visual storytelling.
Business and marketing: Brands leverage social media for marketing, customer engagement, and brand building. Twitter campaigns, Facebook ads, and Instagram influencers shape consumer behaviour.
Social movements: From the Arab Spring to the Black Lives Matter movement, social media catalyses activism. Hashtags become rallying cries, uniting voices for change.
You can read up more as it is important to be wanting to learn more.
Challenges and controversies. Some of these relates to us in PNG while others have yet to affect us.
Privacy: Balancing openness with privacy remains a tightrope walk. Our digital footprints reveal much about us, raising concerns about surveillance and data misuse.
Fake news and misinformation: Social media can amplify falsehoods. Discerning truth from fiction becomes crucial.
Mental health: The constant stream of curated content affects mental well-being. Anxiety, depression, and addiction lurk in the shadows.
Filter bubbles: Algorithms tailor our feeds, reinforcing existing beliefs. Echo chambers hinder diverse perspectives.
Ever-evolving landscape
As technology advances, so does social media. New platforms emerge, trends shift, and our digital interactions evolve. Whether we’re sharing a meme, connecting with old friends, or sparking a global movement, social media weaves our stories into the digital fabric of our times.
In this interconnected world, we are both creators and consumers, shaping the narrative one post, one tweet, and one like at a time.
As highlighted earlier, some of these have not yet found their way into PNG but it will eventually get here. It is only a matter of time, Marfuka reckons.
He recalls his own experience when he eventually accepted social media as a newfound tool that was here to stay. It has became crucial to his work. But it can take away so much of one’s free time if not managed properly.
It was in 2017 when he started work with a politician which exposed him to some interesting experiences. Each time Marfuka was asked about news bits that were making the rounds which he kept missing out on.
Marfuka made it his business to follow the traditional media – newspapers, radio and television quite closely – in order to be up to date with what was happening around the place. But the Member of Parliament who had engaged Marfuka on his staff seemed to be more informed about subjects related to their jobs.
Eventually Marfuka had to ask how he knew all these things. His response was that he picked up these information through Facebook.
Marfuka’s own Facebook account was established in October 2017. His niece created it for him. There was a temporary disconnection when a new account was set up but he reverted to the regular when another young man did that for him.
Marfuka was born in the 1960s and the advent of the internet and the evolution of the information technology is developing at a speed that is at times too fast for the elderly.
It is amazing what the younger generation can do in the IT space. At times when Marfuka is struggling to grasp a certain function of the IT, he reaches out to someone younger. It is quite an experience watching these people solve problems almost effortlessly that he is struggling with.
In PNG WhatsApp groups form quite an interesting access to information and through that and fb Marfuka is well informed.
So, in terms of dissemination of information – the trend seems to be social media releasing snippets of the news.
The mainstream media covers the news giving more accurate versions of the news – in most cases. Sometimes the misleading news can cause a lot of discomfort to those who are involved or are related to the situation.
With the mainstream media there are processes to be followed. The news is gathered and put together by the journalist. It goes through a screening process to ascertain several requirements that all news organisations go through. If all the boxes are ticked – the news makes the bulletin or publication of the organisation.
Journalists, if trained properly, quote their sources in their articles. This gives credence to stories. A person of authourity of the organisation provides this information. They are therefore considered credible sources because they would know the subject matter being broached.
But there are those times when sources are not quoted due to the sensitivity of the information being used. That choice becomes the news organisations management’s call. There are certain factors that determine how the organisation manages these scenarios.
Marfuka knows a bit more about what happens in the newsrooms than most ordinary persons and some of the stories that do the rounds is quite interesting based on who is sharing it and who is listening. He recalls a story whereby the female business editor of a daily newspaper was attending an event after work. It was the official launching of a product or concept.
Organisations put on at times some lavish functions to mark the product or concept launching. Alcohol is at times involved. There was this national politician who obviously had too much to drink and most certainly lost his sense of decency.
It was improper conduct when he touched the body of this female, who also was a foreigner. Her male colleague, the business reporter couldn’t tolerate the actions of the politician and put everyone in the room in a more awkward position when he slapped the VIP.
Back at the organisation, the senior management had to deal with the incident. The company ended up asking the reporter to resign or be sacked.
In a situation like this which happens not just in the news industry but sectors as well – it is better to resign than be sacked. At least the reputation of the worker is somewhat protected in that he or she was not ejected from the organisation due to incompetence. But rather circumstances that became untenable.
But the reporter had a young family and either was trying to find employment again was quite a stressful exercise. A senior colleague of the reporter was heard advising the bemused and equally depressed young man the following saying that “when one door closes, another opens”.
The reporter moved to another news organisation and his rise to being a manager himself was quite an interesting closure on how true the words of advice were. Words of wisdom indeed. Both have since passed on.
The media industry in PNG has evolved as technology continues to improve.
Gone are the days when a reporter has to return to the newsroom. With a laptop or even smartphone – a journalist can put their stories together from where they are.
That is a topic in itself and is a story for another time.
Until next week, enjoy your weekend and most importantly take care.