Is Social media a tool?

I would like the thoughts of others.
Is Social media a tool? Or is it something else by definition?
How would you define social media?

Tool in this definition.
a. Device used to apply work, or means of doing a task.
b. Anything used as a means of accomplishing a task or purpose.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------< br /> Why ask you might think? Well there is a point for me asking. Yet if I tell you the purpose for asking, then it will affect the out come of your answer. So consider that when making an honest answer.

I will go ahead and tell you why anyway to save the confusion, and not make it out like this is some kind of experiment or manipulation for an agenda of my own will.

There is a bunch of talk about social media be the cause of suicide or that is what the main reason that lead to one such instance, Amanda Todd. A sad story indeed, however. In my honest opinion. I feel places like Face book and other social media outlets are nothing more than tools used by other humans.

If we blame a tool for the death of others, that is taking away from the root of the issue. The Parents, and family members are IMO are at the root.
If we are to blame tools for the death of others. One could say. "Vehicles are to blame for children being abducted by strangers."
Which turns into a slippery slope. Once we start blaming the tools we use. I feel we are putting our heads in the sand to say, to the root of the issues. Tools can be used for good or evil means. (lets use common sense)

A. Any good parent would not allow a young girl under the age of 16 a webcam to be left with their own devices.
B. Any good parent or family would not allow their children to have free reign of the use of a computer.

Its one thing to allow your kids to connect with family members and what not online under super vision. Its once supervision is taken out of the equation, that things can get out of control so very fast. Who in their right mind, would allow a young girl the use of a webcam, or the use of a PC with no type of moderation or supervision?
That is why I ask. Is social media a tool? Or is it something more than a tool, and that is why so many people want to blame face book and other social outlets for the deaths and or suicides.

Disclaimer: Let it be known, I felt horrible about that story, and I am empathic to the pain felt though out the online community, and was sickened by the mean spirited comments, and further bully moves made by so many people. Also social media does give bullies a "longer arm". They are able to reach further than ever before. Because it is a tool, being used by them.

But, and this is important.. You can delete those accounts, and YOU never have to use your real name, or give anyone real information about you on face book and such. You can always make a new page, and put fake names, so no one can link it back too you. You can become completely anonymous, and never have to worry about others finding out who you are. IE bullies who have bullied you in the past.

You can always start from fresh if you have soiled the reputation of ones self.. So if you where being bullied or messed with, why would you allow your self to be found again, and again. Why would a parent allow that to happen, when they know its been an issue in the past?

Any good parent and family would know when to step in, and honor their kids by putting their foot down. And say, it stops here!! NO MORE face book, NO MORE webcam. But that is not what happened, and we want to shift the blame else where.

Does that make sense? Or am I coming off offensive? Or thinking about this in the wrong sense?

A tool for who? TPTB or us? Because I personally think it is the first.

On the note of the suicides, I have an opinion, but I would rather not share it for fears of sounding insensitive. However, I will say that social media created a whole new form a bullying. There is even a site that you can go to so you can make fun of people on it, kinda like a reverse popularity contest.

Does anybody know what site I am talking about?

I just say with all confidence.. Parents role and blame is being underplayed here. All this finger pointing. When we should be looking at Todds Parents for allowing this young girl a webcam, and access with no moderation.
Who the hell gives a little girl a webcam anyway??? REALLY?
Any parent who thinks its okay for a young girl to have a webcam, needs their heads fixed, and are not fit to be a "good" parent. IMO

Just to add.. If you allow your young girl a webcam to talk to family members that is one thing.. But take it away and put it up when you are not there to see what is going on.. I am serious, little girls and webcams have no place in any good home. Any parent who allows a girl under the age of 16 to be alone to her own devices with a webcam is out of touch with reality.

I am sure you are all on the up and up, but if not. Here are a couple links.

This Young girl committed suicide by social media

Originally posted by Renegade2283
A tool for who? TPTB or us? Because I personally think it is the first.

On the note of the suicides, I have an opinion, but I would rather not share it for fears of sounding insensitive. However, I will say that social media created a whole new form a bullying. There is even a site that you can go to so you can make fun of people on it, kinda like a reverse popularity contest.

Does anybody know what site I am talking about?

A tool for who ever uses it. This could go in many directions. So feel free to just be honest with your feelings and thoughts.

I share your concern, I do not wish to sound insensitive either, but its time we are honest with our selves, as that might help this from happening again, if we bring the truth to the surface. And stop pointing fingers, and force parents to start taking some form of responsibility for their own kids.

There are many sites that are used by bullies, to allow the reach of their effects enter your home. When in my day, bullies could get you at school, but you could get away from them once you got home.
Today, the bully can follow you to your house, if you allow them that power.

Yeah, I know of the sites you talk about. There are also sites out there, that prey upon young girls who do not have proper supervision. I wont link them here, as they are porn sites too.

I come from a different age when I was growing up.. So I may be out of touch. I hope to maybe broaden my mind here.

reply to post by zysin5


Ya, I totally understand that feeling of being done "beating around the bush" just to not hurt anybody's feelings.

Personally, I never use social media, I see it as a waste of time that will only end me up getting in a fight. Also, I dont really want to go and put what is essentially a perfect little personality profile, on the internet. I think people are giving far too much information on what makes them tick, on the net. Just making TPTB's job easier.

I see my brothers just zombied out on social media almost all day, except when they are playing World of Warcraft, or watching sports, which I see as just a big a distraction.

I dont really have the right words to say what I am talking about, so I will let Beale do it for me.



(Sorry if you cant watch videos)

reply to post by Renegade2283


I absolutely agree with you there. And all the points you have made in your post. Thank you for being as candid as possible.
I do use face book. However I use it for time wasting clicky games. And there is no way it can be connected to me.. Unless you want to track my IP, and what not.. But its not something I spend to much time with. And I do not trust social media, as it IS being used by The powers that be. CIA/FBI/DEA and local police departments.
In the cases of those people who hurt animals and post those pics on FB, I am glad they get caught.
So there is good and bad about Big brother keeping an eye on these things.

Yet that is a whole other issue/topic. But clearly relates to Social media, and how its being used as a tool.

I thank you Renegade for offering your thoughts and concerns with me here.video its a classic.

I do hope to hear from others, about social media being a tool.
If not, that is cool too.
I have found I would rather get limited or no response on a thread, rather than getting flamed and get tons of negative feedback.
Social media here on ATS I have found.. If you make a solid point, or thread, it gets very little attention.
While the threads that inspire anger, or Verse my guy, Verse your guy will explode.

I will be content with just a few ideas, and other thoughts.
That is why I am very careful when I use this TOOL. Its a new type of tool, and some people when they think of a tool, they think hammer, or wrench.

Social media can be much like a hammer. If you do not know how to use it properly, you can hurt yourself and others badly. (metaphorically)
TPTB can not track you or know your location through the use a hammer.

To my mind social media is just a tool.Blaming facebook for a suicide is like blaming the Beatles for Charles Manson because he latched on to their song Helter Skelter.

I don't do social media,don't have a FB account because I cant see the point in it.Mind you I was 28 when I got my first mobile phone and I still write my texts in written English.lol.

Social media,phones,pc's,laptops,ipads,tablets.The technology is so all pervasive nowadays especially to younger adults and children who've never known anything else.

Parents should monitor their childrens access to the internet,especially if their troubled or sensitive because bullying by social media and texting can easily go on unseen.

Also there have been sites i've stumbled across that although they may not have shocked me,they've left me wondering if they're for real or a big wind up.If I cant always tell as a reasonably intelligent 40 year old bloke what chance has some poor impressionable 14 year old of knowing whats harmful or safe.

So yes social media is only a tool in the hands of a balanced mature teenager or adult but would you give a nervous,unsure immature teen a sports car or a chainsaw to go off and play without supervision.

Social media is a tool for whoever uses it. People like us, TPTB, advertisers and the people who make the site.

Whoever uses it and generates the most power from that use, will control it.

Originally posted by fastbob72
To my mind social media is just a tool.Blaming facebook for a suicide is like blaming the Beatles for Charles

So yes social media is only a tool in the hands of a balanced mature teenager or adult but would you give a nervous,unsure immature teen a sports car or a chainsaw to go off and play without supervision.

Thank you for your thoughts fastbob. This is the thought process I tend to go with. However I come from a day and age, when we did not have such things. We did not get internet and email basic stuff until I was 18 or 19.
There was computers when I was in high school, but nothing like it is today.
And back in High school, we dealt with bullies, and did not allow it to go past the point of fist. And a couple bloody noses.

reply to post by DeepImpactX


All very valid points. Thank you for your input here.
In this sense, we are able to take a step back, and see it for what it really is. When looking at social media as a tool. I think it would give a better perspective to how its being used, and who is using it.
And in the end, who will control it. In the end game controlling us. Or those of us who give it the power to do so.

With this post, I would like to address Bullies who use social media as a tool to broaden their reach.

If you have used social media to bully anyone, you are a coward! There was once a time, when a bully had to go face to face. And in the end, the bully got their Arse handed to them!!

But Cyber bullies, do not have to face the people they bully online. From what I have gathered, and seen online. Its just something I may never understand. As people are very brave when sitting behind a computer screen. Can we really define these people as real bullies? Or are they something else all together. Perhaps its time to give cyber bullies a new title, something a little less than glorifying than bully. If that is possible.

I will not underplay the fact that bullies have a hand in making it harder on some kids these days.
But there will be people like me in this world, that will stand up for other people. Or those who are to scared to stand up for themselves. There are also more and more people today, who are taking it upon them selves to defend those who can not defend themselves, or fear punishment by the system who seems to protect the very bullies they claim they want to stop.

Karma is not the stick that punishes you. Karma is the energy you put out. And you will get back what you put out there. I won't threaten, or sink down to their level. However, there are people being hurt and effected.

We are all connected, and some people have more empathy than others.
When you hurt one, you hurt everyone connected on that level.
And you slowly disconnect yourself from the rest of us. In the end, that will be your Karma.
Disconnected and having no empathy for anyone or anything.

There is still a chance that those who bully, can learn from this experience. And change their ways.
If you are using Social Media to bully others.. You are in effect taking a hammer and using it to hit people...
That is a crime. (metaphorically)

When you use a tool to cause harm, that should hold you accountable in the sense you are using a tool to cause harm to another. As it seems we agree social media is a tool.

To those who feel they are being bullied online:
With social media, you can one up the bully, and not give them the power to use this tool against you.
So I would say its 50/50 here.. You can either allow yourself abuse, and play the victim. Or out smart your bully, and involve your family and friends. They will help you if they love you and care about you.
There does come a point where you can either be the victim the rest of your life.. OR pass the test and not allow yourself to be a victim. There is a choice, and you are not trapped, no matter how bad it might seem.

That is my humble thoughts on the cyber bully section of social media. To the best of my mental process.. I am always open to other mental processes, and or thoughts on how this Tool can be used in a positive way.

reply to post by zysin5


WEll I think you are getting into several different directions here and to ask a question about social networks being the tools of or root of evil imo is brash. I mean no more than parents that keep guns in their homes and have children shoot themselves or others. I personally think giving free reign gives more trust and therefore more personal responsibility to my kids. Talking about online safety and setting limits is one thing but you have to follow your intuition too.

There are people out there who are stalkers and the internet made it much easier for them, but whether or not you have a computer the risks are still real. Propaganda and subliminal suggestion is far more dangerous than the Internets social networks.

reply to post by zysin5


Yes I understand what your saying I too came from that era when computers were just barely beginning to make an impression in school.At the end of term we got to see a single solitary BBC Acorn computer with a crude robot attatched to it by a lot of cabling.To be honest my remote control toy car was a lot more inspiring.At home we had an Atari with pacman and that tennis game with the bar that went up and down the screen.lol.

Later we had a Commodore 64 but again I never found it more than entertainment.Definitely just missed out on the technological front growing up.All my music was on vinyl and cassette so thats my era.lol.

What I see as a mere tool is obviously much more a real part of the fabric of a young teens social life nowadays in a way that I probably just can't appreciate and at least in my day bullies couldnt follow you into your house.There you had that haven where you could feel safe,nowadays it seems the bullies are there wherever you go,where ever there's a screen !!!

It's too late and too 'backward' to suppose that kids will disengage from the online world and go back to the real world like in my day so perhaps there is a case for more safeguards for vulnerable kids online !!!

Originally posted by antar
reply to post by zysin5

 

WEll I think you are getting into several different directions here and to ask a question about social networks being the tools of or root of evil imo is brash. I mean no more than parents that keep guns in their homes and have children shoot themselves or others. I personally think giving free reign gives more trust and therefore more personal responsibility to my kids. Talking about online safety and setting limits is one thing but you have to follow your intuition too.

There are people out there who are stalkers and the internet made it much easier for them, but whether or not you have a computer the risks are still real. Propaganda and subliminal suggestion is far more dangerous than the Internets social networks.

Hi Antar! Thank you for stopping by and offer your valid thoughts into this thread here
I agree with the points you made, and yes I think trust is key. But you would agree I am sure. Trust is something that is earned. And I would hate to sound as if I am sounding like I am telling anyone how to raise their own kids. Its totally up to them, to do as they see fit. Some kids and families are better equipped to live normal lives and not have any issues online. Its the propaganda that really makes more issues than the social medias in itself.
Setting limits and using common sense is key. Once the kids understand this, then I am sure there would be no issues. And that trust can be given.
My point being, when kids are given no direction, and no moderation, and no supervision, that is when things can suddenly get out of control. And these kids will be preyed upon, and it will continue to happen, until the base root of the issue is handled, and that being is at the family level.
How ever a family wants to deal with that is their business, and non of mine.
But it becomes my business when I see so many people getting hurt, and as you know me well enough to know I am deeply connected to all people. And when one person is hurt, I feel it and I tend to take it upon myself to get others to look deeper into the root of the issues.

Again my friend, thank you for your thoughts! I have and will always value your thoughts and posts.

reply to post by zysin5


On a side note I suppose kids who have no real life friends would fall prey more easily, not positive but think it is plausible. I mean think about it, many of the abductions and rape cases happen by those the kids trust and know. Awareness on on all levels including the internet is a must in this world. I think from what I watch with my own they tend to hang out with their school friends, not that I like all of those people or trust them. Making an issue sometimes creates a problem with young people, it can cause them to rebel or try to prove the parents wrong. This can lead them into danger too.