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Public Health and value of social media

Social media platforms play a significant and growing role in shaping our forms of connectivity and social life.  This can be demonstrated by examining the prevention of violence against women public health campaign. Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) highlights a range of data including; 1 woman per week is killed by a former or current partner over a two-year period (2012-2014). Intimate partner violence causes more illness disability and death than any other risk factor for women 25-44. 72,000 women and 34,000 children sought homelessness services in 2016/7 due to family/domestic violence. Violence against women is therefore a major health concern and an issue that has used social media as a platform to facilitate awareness and drive cultural chance to improve our social life.

Communication technology and digital media provide a platform for people to discuss and learn about the issue, connect on the issue, provide information relating to lived experience, help overcome barriers to seek and access support that can improve health of the community. Given the accessibility of digital media, engaging with health and support services is more likely than ever. Social media engages the public, the person with need and experts or professionals to communicate about the issue and improve the health/social outcome. Social media has had a profound impact on the issue of domestic violence/violence against women. Given the ability to engage the issue with anonymity, social media can assist the shy or abused seek assistance and support in a sensitive and private manner.

Fundamental to the prevention of violence against women is the need for engagement of the community on this issue. Social media platforms enable interaction with others in the community, make available information in a variety of forms that can address need, expose lived experience and promote social/emotional support for peers.

Through social media, the community has been able to better understand the full impact of violence against women and the relevant circumstances behind the violence. The behaviours and attitudes that lead to violence have been highlighted through social media.. Social media has addressed much community need on this issue but enabled it to be conducted in an interactive way. By doing this it has enabled strong relationships between a range of publics including media professionals, violence against women organisations and their staff, the broader community and victims of violence.

Despite all the social media benefits associated with the campaign or efforts to address violence against women, some negative elements can be experienced. Social media requires adequate resources to sustain the extent of activity and timeliness that social media platforms demand. Funding and adequacy of skilled workers can be a workforce challenge.

Harm from social media can also be possible from trolls or by aggressors who may use the platform to try and trace individuals or target organisations that are working on the issue. Offensive posts and aggressive posts from trolls can cause enormous distress to the target individual or group.

The issue of violence against women is a global issue and a major public health problem for our community. Social media has and will play a key role in our connectivity on issues such as violence against women and social life. Social media has enabled digital citizenship and online activism at a great scale as demonstrated by UN Women and the many and varied organisations and government dedicated to ending violence against women.

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Classic Hollywood

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xvn9ty

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China social Media

China has an enormous use of social media. It was expected that by 2018, just over 600 million social network users will be recorded. With internet penetration rates slightly under 60% in large city areas and just under 30% for regional areas. Internet usage is also significant with one third of leisure time spent on the internet by Chinese in 2015. The average Chinese reads material for 40 minutes from We Chat. This extensive use is further supported by the fact that 80% of Chinese social media users, have more than one social media account.

The social media landscape dominating the western world is banned by the Chinese government through censorship. With this circumstance in place, the Chinese market has a large, dynamic  and growing social media landscape comprising many platforms specifically built for the Chinese market, many replicating the functionality of the dominant western world platforms. We Chat with 1.08 billion monthly users, Sina Weibo with 446 million monthly users are the dominant platforms. With such a large platform, innovation and social media platform development is an active component of the social media market environment. Volatility is also a feature of the Chinese market. Fast growth and rapid decline is all part of the Chinese social media landscape.

Sites such as We Chat have a huge scope of functionality combining some of the single usage functions all consolidated. Many international brands subscribe to access the huge Chinese market. TencentQQ although being an instant messaging service offers a range of shopping, game functionality, media and a range of marketing capacity. Douyin, the short video posting platform has experience massive growth over a three year period.

With smartphone penetration at around 84%, mobile phone access of the internet is at an amazing level. This makes the internet such an accessible tool and with the convenience of smartphones, the accessibility of all social media platforms can only expand further. Penetrating this market requires a high degree of sensitivity. Attempts by some organisations to market or advertise brands have failed, with statements or marketing efforts offending.  

The size, scale and dynamic nature of the social media platforms in china make a unique location to watch and observe the evolution of social media. With a massive consumer market and massive mobile phone penetration, china is a global social media flagship country.

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Social or Anti-Social?

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Social gaming enables a group, network of people or publics to play interactive games online. This type of social interaction via online games is growing and is a global occurrence. Game fans from Australia can play someone from Greenland or any other country. Social online gaming enables interaction via a range of interconnected platforms, therefore connecting publics or gamers who are interacting. Social gaming can use social networks from major social media platforms like Facebook. Users can connect and share stories or get advice.

The extent of social gaming opportunities is significant, whether its cards, social online network games such as those on the Playstation network or Xbox games.

The principle benefit of the online social games is to enable all age cohorts to play. According to Dr Kowert from smart social gamers .org, “these games provide unique opportunities for developing, honing and reinforcing the range of abilities and benefits associated with play”. Dr Kowert indicates that social games help maintain friendships, create new ones, and lead to a greater social and emotional wellbeing, a stronger sense of identity and a higher life satisfaction.  This shared interactive network of game players, enjoy the benefits that were typical of group board game playing over the years. You can enjoy plying families or friends from your home. In addition, the relationships built online can be enduring and provide support or advice when required. Dr Kowert suggests that for the shy, anxious or isolated people, visual anonymity can provide a good level of security.

Benefits can also be associate with the cheap costs, promotion of teamwork and creativity, peer recognition and sense of accomplishment as you accrue points or success or complete a mission.

But there are negative elements of social gaming.  Long screen time leading to reduced family interaction, disclosure of personal information, addiction or obsession, exposure to inappropriate material from inappropriate relationships formed online, ignoring normal life activities like school, sport and others can all impact the wellbeing of the player, particularly teenagers according to cybersafe.acsqld.org.

Interactive social games online can also contribute to address social issues. There are games that convert points earned into donation including part of profit for social good like WETOPIA. Joy kingdom is another interactive game on the Facebook network that contributes funds towards animal welfare. This integration of gaming and philanthropy helps build social dividend using the diverse social media platforms.

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Together we can deal with crisis

crowdsourcing has the power to bring like minded people together through social media to achieve a particular outcome. In times of crises, when man made or natural disaster wreaks havoc on populations, crowdsourcing through social media enables a collective of people to come together to meet the diverse needs of those impacted or their families and friends as well as responders. 

Social media can harness the power of many to target interventions and responses in crises and in commercial circumstances through the integration of social media, communication and response. Coverage of the scene of the crises or disaster, especially through amateur/citizen reporters can facilitate extensive community engagement and communication. Formal crises communication can be delivered through social media and provide a direct window into a crises event.

In crises, fundamental tasks must be delivered in an efficient and effective way. Social media enables real time information to be broadcast to enable the stakeholders and publics to respond. social media platforms enable a diversity of information to go out immediately. Whether its Twitter or Youtube content, online forums or website information, emergency respondents or the broader community can benefit and help with volunteer efforts and response or recovery efforts.

crowdsourcing can also assist in the filtering of data, where inaccurate information can be corrected by publics or individuals. Filtering of data by monitoring crowd contribution can assist with mapping crises events by the volume of information being assessed.

crowdsourcing can help bring digital volunteers, people that will skype or use online tools to assist in meeting the needs of those affected or respondents. Virtual volunteer organisations have now been formed such as Crises Commons.org, Humanity Road and others all through social media and using a crowdsourcing model.

Despite all the value of crowdsourcing through social media, there are challenges when used in a crises situation. With massive volume of information flow, it becomes difficult to determine what is of value. Lots of the information can be distracting noise, particularly if its reused material that becomes out of date or inaccurate material.

crowdsourcing through social media brings together like minded people as individuals, organised groups supported by online tools to help deliver the right information to the people with need, in a timely way and in forms that are appropriate in a crises or disaster circumstance.

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Scurge of the troll and cyberbully

In a calm and peaceful home environment, or school or work setting you can be confronted by a barrage of messages, images, videos, emails, and other online content that has the potential to destroy your life. Trolls or cyberbullies, some with sound mind and others with health issues, carry on with online behaviour which can be threatening, intimidating, harassing or humiliating. The damage can be social, physical or psychological.

The behaviour can be short, with a video such as a scary clown that appears to attack a viewer to a protracted campaign of harassment. A troll can deal with sensitive content, such as attacking death notices or making fun of sensitive historical events such as 9/11 or the Holocaust. They can target individuals, websites, or organisations and can be in a private or public setting.

Trolls and cyberbullies hide behind anonymity and defame, offend or seek to hurt through their actions. When caught, some believe they are doing nothing illegal, have a right to do so, payback for actions or have mental health issues.

With over 70% of 18-24 YO and 40% of all online users witnessing online harassment, it is a common occurrence.

The fightback is now well and truly on. Governments, law enforcement agencies and journalist are working together with online platform managers to expose the trolls and cyberbullies. Some of the most notorious trolls have been identified and exposed. In some cases, exposure has lead the troll to suicide.

Governments and foundations are also working to build the capacity of the community to protect themselves through services and resources. Legislation has been put in place along with the establishment of government agencies to help build safe, positive and respectful online environments.

Exposing the troll or cyberbully and prosecuting them is fundamental in stopping troll activity. Reporting trolls to relevant authorities and ignoring them seems to address the desire of the troll to seek attention.

The fightback is now on and making a difference!

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We Object!

Social media provides the community with a tool that can be used to provide a strong voice, help people develop knowledge and mobilise people into action all for a cause that can be of social benefit. The individual at home can team up with the masses to take on the super power of the corporate’s or government, local or national. 

Activism or protest has been a right of people over many years. In some cases protests were carried out with violence and force, whereas modern technology enables larger groups of people to collaborate with more powerful campaigns and with less violence and force.

A recent campaign targeting slaughterhouses was highly effective and organised at relatively low cost. “March to close down slaughterhouses” was a worldwide campaign on Sat 6 April 2019. The campaign mobilised people to march in capital cities to bring attention to the issue of animal slaughter. It was driving home the message to end the violence and killing of animals for human consumption. A web site, extensive social media activity mobilised people in many countries and cities. 

Other highly successful social media campaigns “me too”, environmental movement and sweatshop targeted campaigns all highlight the low cost, highly effective value of social media or online activism.

Online activity or social media can also drive activism or protest against political figures or policies developed by governments at local, state, national and international levels.

Ministers of state or national government, councillors of local governments can all be the target of the community coming together online to influence change.

Activism via social media can drive the development of petitions or campaigns targeting individuals in public life to correct or develop policies, services or facilities.

Whist activism is often of a serious nature, activism can be of a humorous nature. In 2017, Inverse.com presented a number of humorous memes involving Ivanka Trump and Justin Trudeau, Trudeau and Trump. Romance and physical features were the basis of the humour.

The power of social media to bring public’s together, from any background, without geographical restrictions to create a strong and united voice with clear visibility and capacity to put forward views against mainstream media, the once dominant platform is amazing.

This activism progressed through social media promotes participation by the community and it is the contest and conflict that encourages engagement. It enables protest without vandalism, destruction or damage.

Activism on social media can also serve to educate and mobilise many to help achieve improvements to some of the most significant social and environmental issues. So apart from an attack on poor decisions, policies etc., it can help build a better world.

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Sharing your voice in politics

The three levels of governments, National,State and local  get involved and make decisions about issues that effect community and individual life. Community engagement in politics is important to ensure they (governments)  get it right. Digital citizenship is about communities getting involved in conversations relating to politics and policies. Mainstream media and high profile presenters (or owners) have for many years influenced the messages and not engaged the community voices. Social media through it’s many platforms has enabled individuals and groups to join the political conversations in a variety of different ways and in the public sphere. Social media has enabled the public to form or individuals to use platforms like Twitter, Youtube or Auspol and a range of other options to convey a particular message or comment on an event and share different opinions relating to politics or policies. Social media platforms are interactive but can also be used to criticise and destroy credibility through text or things like a range of meme’s and online sketches. Digital citizenship is important to facilitate participation but we must ensure appropriate use of technology user behaviour, protocols for social media and internet use. A limitation that must be overcome relates to those which haven’t got high levels or basic levels of digital literacy. Developing their skills is vital if we are to promote digital citizenship. Mainstream media is always going to play a significant role in politics but social media has shaped and evolved politics and will continue to do so. 

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https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fprezi.com%2Fview%2F2jkTLCTc3rYPnCNK3Cul%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1BtP0uB_ioquzaSCrFky6Xm1dt7xc8WVaCzdoXJ4Lz19TOleNIFsbqZig&h=AT1eSnbsnx67mEA4i1Bg-amnCZersFhPt-tj2WLeMOtmvH3Zw1JRxs-F_Hfq57AnvOujjJ3-98R7wLf7-h--kVkeLALy5msRIHGCfK_8wKBgmmaiy98E3aCYjis1Wr2CvA

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Is Tumblr a blog or social network site?

Tumblr is a platform that enables you to connect with like minded people and allows you to post a range of items that can be shared. It enables you to blog, post videos, audios, photos, texts etc.  It enables you to customise the site as you would like. A prominent feature of Tumblr is its capacity to connect and be part of a community of choice and share or engage with others. Millions of posts and blogs occur each week. Tumblr lets you chat so promoting social networking. Bloggers can be made public and followed or made private. Tumblr bloggers are micro blogger’s, therefore are shorter in length. Tumblr allows you to manage your blog and have live feeds from persons/ sites of interest, upload content of different forms through the dashboard function. Blogs and other social networking accounts can be all connected.

Social networking sites are generally a web based site that enables networking and connecting but also allows you to create a public profile, similar to what can occur on Tumblr. Communication, advertising and marketing or promotions are all capable of being undertaken on Tumblr or  other social networking sites. Creation of communities can easily be established on Tumblr and other social networking sites. A difference between Tumblr  and social networking sites include the ability for Tumblr to customise your blog and post a range of items. This level of integration is a great feature of Tumblr. Items on social networking sites can be more limited in access to friends or persons in the community.

Posts can be made and shared and this is generally able to be on Tumblr and other social networking sites. Tumbler allows far more capacity to customise your page and blog. Some other social networking sites enable greater capacity to engage with others, so more complex engagement and posts can occur. Tumbler is very accessible, so unless you go private, it is widely available to internet  users.

So in conclusion Tumblr is a little of both because of its functionality.

Footnotes

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/better-tumblr-facebook-63080.html