Social Networks, social responsibility, so what

This last week the main topics that everyone discussed were Ben Affleck landing the role of Batman in an upcoming movie and the Miley Cyrus performance at the video music awards.

Neither topic really affects me in any way and normally I would not even comment on them except to make a joke or two here and there.

What was of interest to me were some of the reactions to the discussions.  Some folks were genuinely put off by everyone being somewhat obsessed by these events while other things such as the chemical gas attack in Syria get little to no regard by the average tweeter or facebooker.

I suppose some folks see social networks as a way to affect change and make the world a better place.  Laudable in its own way but let’s take a hard look at what we’re dealing with here.  These are networks that were made to get people chatting on their off time, to connect to friends, to allow groups to share common interests together despite geographical distance, and of course to make money.  Granted that these networks have considerable political and social interest groups in them but it’s really not their main function.

I suppose that people in this country are looking for an “Arab Spring” or “Iranian election” moment where people in other countries used these networks to organize and affect change in their regions.

Really I don’t see that happening here in the US.  In those regions news and information is so heavily restricted that the advent of these networks were very welcome and embraced enthusiastically.  Finally you could get unfiltered news and in real-time,

We on the other hand have such a cacophony of information screaming and yelling at us from so many different directions that no additional prodding from a social network will help that much.  What we need are more filters not more news sources.

You can argue that these networks have a responsibility almost akin to that of a public utility to keep the greater good in mind.  I would argue that we as individuals have that responsibility.  We all need to decide thoughtfully what we will and won’t listen to.

After all, just because they talk about inane subjects doesn’t mean you need to listen.