Editor
IN today’s technologically-advanced world social media hold an important role in making current affairs known to all. Consider how you might come across the news. One seldom reads a newspaper from back to front in order to obtain knowledge. No, one rather sees and hears news on the internet, on television channels and on social media applications. This method is practical and informative; it can be accessed by all, both young and old. The use of entertainment media keeps people of any age informed. But just how well-informed are we?
In general conversation, people easily mention the name of a Facebook page, the trending topic of a Twitter account or the hashtags on Instagram that all link to recent news outbreaks. But after a while, it becomes more and more apparent that we only know what scrapes the surface of these news stories. We know what has been advertised and catch-phrased, but sometimes we can’t elaborate. I have noticed this amongst my peers especially.
In my generation, we are lucky enough to have knowledge at our fingertips, to be able to interact with current affairs using social media. But, in attempting to try to keep up with appearances, my peers and I can sometimes take originally sincere ways of raising awareness and we turn it into a trend, where we can post a picture, share a video or like a page. Tired examples of this are the no make-up selfie for cancer, the snapchat stories of Je Suis Charlie and the tagging of #blacklivesmatter on any old photo. This turns into the advertisement of your own brand or network rather than the education of people. We sometimes use it to make ourselves seem more up to date and sincere, when we are really doing the opposite.
A headline is not just a virtual topic, it is a reality that people are enduring, and simply using a catchphrase or a hashtag to promote ourselves can be insensitive and selfish. I would like people to consider that for us, discussing current affairs may only be a way of updating our statuses or making small-talk, but for some it is a necessity that helps to save another.
Drew Haller
Durban North
