Social media seen as double-edged sword

Editorial

THEY say social media can be seen as a two-edged sword for law enforcement – a tool for gathering evidence and identifying suspects but also a force behind youth violence in the city.
A national court judge once said capturing images on mobile phones and making them available to the people confidential line is an effective method ordinary citizens can use in the fight against crime.
Basically, he is saying, we citizens can fight crime with the use of technology.
Thanks to social media, the courts have handed down sentences with evidence from social media.
Social media is a significant factor in some of the issues of public interest.
The turn of events around the Boroko Police Station area is because of social media.
One post led to another and before authorities had time to interview and investigate, a crowd had gathered.
Until the early years of the 21st Century, crimes tended to be committed away from the eyes of the majority of society, with traditional media broadcasting information about them often on their own terms.
Specifically with school fights, it’s the number one issue. Things fester and build up on social media before it ever comes to the streets.
Confrontations on face book or twitter can start between two people but eventually gain steam with dozens of teens responding.
The name-calling and provoking can quickly escalate to assaults or fights in school or on the streets.
Youth will also record fights or assaults and upload them to Youtube or post them on social media.
They will post things like fights or gang signs to show who won the fight.
When they record it, they like sharing that information.
Parents often do not know what their children are posting online and are surprised.
Another bonus for social media is that it can help identify problem youth.
School personnel, law enforcement and parents will have meetings with these teens and offer them resources to redirect their lives in a more positive direction.
Our children must also learn to walk away from provocation and report such issues to school authorities to deal with it rather than trying to solve it among themselves.
There are procedures to deal with teenage issues and it could get out of hand if there is no common understanding between all parties.
While schools and communities recognise that school violence needs to be addressed, it is also critical that they respect the hopes and rights of the majority of students who are neither perpetrators nor victims of school violence and who want nothing more than to receive a good education in a safe environment.
Parents should actively monitor what their children are posting online and with whom they are communicating.
Social media is becoming a part of the lives of everyday youths in the country.
Social media is vital source of information and education.
Used correctly and with proper control mechanisms, it can result in positive development for the individual as well as the community at large.
We agree that every Papua New Guinean has the qualified right to broadcast or publish and to partake in a public assembly.
However, that comes with responsibility as well which is what lacks in the social media at the moment.