Freedom of Facebook

Facebook has recently come under attack for failing to enforce its own guidelines on hate speech and violent imagery. Is it a website’s job to moderate the content its users post, or should users have complete freedom? Is there a happy medium? If so, how would you structure it?

Hmmm… Facebook freedom? There are some things that shouldn’t be allowed on Facebook such as videos or images of people taking drugs or pornography.

However, there are certain videos that should be permitted like the PETA video which can be considered violent. These raise awareness of issues that need to be addressed. Videos that are promoting violence should be censored.

Whilst Freedom of Speech is important, I do not believe that hate-fuelled propaganda should be permitted, particularly on websites.

Facebook must enforce guidelines about hate speech and certain violent imagery. However, like I said, when the images or videos are attempting to stop the violence that they portray, it is not inciting violence and therefore should be allowed. This is just my opinion.

Some Facebook users may argue that young children are using the site however, it has an age restriction of 13 which is an age where a certain level of emotional maturity has been reached. The videos are not only available on Facebook, they are available on YouTube as well. If parents are concerned then I think they should monitor their children’s use of the internet full stop.

There is never a ‘happy medium’ as there will always be people who argue that not enough has been done or the site is too restricting.

Facebook is striving to maintain the level of freedom that its users have. With regards to videos, Facebook should match its guidelines to those of YouTube. Facebook should enforce a ban that encourages users to refrain from hate speech considering discrimination is against the law.

In conclusion:

1. It is difficult to monitor what can or can’t be said without breaching Freedom of Speech but when opinions clearly overstep laws, such as hate speech, bans must be put in place.

2. Videos are monitored on Facebook already. However Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and other social networks should work together to produce a set of rules that all of the networks abide by.

The Social Network

Do you feel like you “get” social media, or do you just use it because that’s where all your friends and family are?

I laughed when I saw this prompt. Do I get social media? I’m a teenager in a  social-media-centred-world. If I didn’t “get” social media then people would think I lived in a bin on a remote corner of the planet.

My mother on the other hand… that is a completely different story. She’s relatively good with typing and clicking but when it comes to Facebook and Twitter and Youtube and WordPress and Tumblr and other things, she doesn’t have a clue. She asks me on a daily basis how to ‘Like’ something and what that means or what certain internet slang words mean. She hasn’t quite mastered memes on Fb but we’re getting there. I think she understands Grumpy Cat now: it’s a cat who’s grumpy.

She’s relatively good with social media…compared to my grandmother who has mastered ‘The Scroll’. I am a proud granddaughter.

If you want to master the internet lingo, this video will help:

(They do swear so please don’t watch if you find it offensive)