Blog 8: Personal Opinions (Social Media and Technology)

Hi everyone!

Facebook, Twitter, Tik-tok, Instagram are some of the social networks that predominate today in modern times.

However, what appears to be the new form of interaction between people is also a very dangerous double-edged sword that can hardly be controlled.

Fake news, political campaigns and positioning of social actors, we have been able to see during the electoral cycle that Chile has lived in these last two years.

But ... what is dangerous about all this?

The power that social media can have  is very high due to the impossibility of legal regulation by the States, in other words, they distort reality (and create others), influence the personal opinions of citizens and set the social agenda.

As a curious fact: the possibility of a Twitter Trending Topic appearing in a in a ''traditional'' communication medium is 40%, no matter if it's true or false. Also, according to studies, only 1 in 3 people know how to differentiate between true and fake news.

In my personal opinion, I think that they are worrying data and that we must do something to solve it. Even if, social networks have contributed to access to information, the truth is that we are facing a discreet danger that can harm not only at general levels, but also at personal levels (exemplified in cyberbullying, for example).

Finally, I think it is also important to call for reflection: How many of our opinions are based on real judgment? How much power does social media have in our lives?

As a great friend would say: to think ladies and gentlemen