We like to think we make our own opinions. But let’s be honest. In today’s day and age, we are constantly bombarded with ideas and thoughts of others that we don’t even have a chance to think for ourselves or distinguish between the facts and the myths. This is because our frontiers have become much broader now. Anything that can steal away our eyes or screens becomes a source of news. According to the Pew Research Center, around ⅔ of Americans received their news from social media in 2018.
One of the things that undoubtedly sets the COVID-19 crisis apart from prior pandemics such as the SARS and MERS outbreaks is the increased role of social media and online conversation. The advancements in technology and communication since then is both a blessing and a curse.
Social media carries a huge risk for misinformation. When all the glitz and glamor is stripped away, the only thing that remains is the backbone of the entire system: algorithms. Put simply, social media algorithms are used to determine what content is best suited for the user. However, one of the setbacks is that it favors the posts that have the most likes or views, and these are not necessarily the most factually correct. As long as your post is the most eye-catching, more and more people will have it pop up on their screens, and even if it is completely made up, the message it sends will go viral, be believed, and cause alarm. This is how the toilet paper frenzy of ‘20 began. One person started a rumor that there would be a toilet paper shortage because Chinese factories were closing down. Everyone began to panic-buy them by the cartload, which created a real shortage that has now caused sewers to be blocked due to the creative, yet inadequate alternatives adopted by those who ran out.
We all know the disadvantages and negative effects of social media, but now, the negatives are amplified amid the panic that is ensuing among the public.
We do need to cut it some slack, though. Social media does bring some immense benefits to the table. Information travelling online spreads faster and wider, informing and educating people about the course of the virus. In Singapore, the government sends daily WhatsApp messages informing people about protocol and new cases. Support systems are set up through social media as well, and as long as we are sure the information that is sent out is accurate, it can be greatly beneficial. Even healthcare workers are looking towards information on social media to communicate with colleagues all around the world to treat the infected.
The ability to communicate and engage with the outside world virtually brings great relief to the public at times like these when meeting others physically is not a possibility. The only reason the economy and education systems are able to continue to function through it all is due to technology; now, we are able to be productive and socialize in a virtual space. Having another dimension to be transported into helps to escape the chaotic reality and is also just plain fun. Popular challenges such as the #stayathomechallenge on Instagram where users record themselves juggling a toilet paper roll (which has now become a symbol of the pandemic) give people something to do. Finding entertainment on the internet is one of the few alternatives to getting bored out of your mind when you are stuck alone indoors for days.
Memes and TikToks are some of the most common modes of expression in teens nowadays, not only offering entertainment for creators and viewers, but also acting as a form of catharsis. They’re being used to overcome a difficult situation by laughing it off. But is it possible that the humor downplays the severity of the situation and causes the lighthearted approaches of adolescents? It seems plausible, with students still going on Spring Break and crowding Florida beaches despite public pleas to practice social distancing. But at the same time, we can’t ignore the fact that humans are social animals, and being with others during this difficult time provides a sense of relief and security. These past few months have been hectic, and the chaos only grows from one moment to the next. The internet is all we have to feel the sense of community that is so integral to who we are as humans.
Social media pushes users’ emotive responses to the extreme so that it either creates excessive panic or excessive negligence. What we need is to find the sweet spot between the two for an appropriate response. Only then will we be able to work together and use social media to its full potential in mitigating the issue and creating a positive environment.
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