The technology was a wonderful invention in the world. Since its introduction, the world has never been the same; it has improved every bit of human life either directly or indirectly. Many of the technology inventions are outstanding; one such invention is the social media. It has given people the freedom to express themselves even the ones who had no confidence to contribute to the discussion in the society or within their environments. The USA constitution and many other constitutions in other parts of the worlds give the citizens the freedom to express their ideas and grievances on matters which affects them. However, the underlying truth is that not many of these citizens have the confidence required or the courage it takes to express them on the sensitivities matters of the nation’s freely. It is important to note that many people fear for their security in case they are to oppose the governments or any other individuals. However, the introduction of social media has done away with this through privacy creation which enhances safety and allows more expressions. The critique of the social media has pointed at many issues which demonize the use of freedom of speech. They have cited many matters which related to the misuse, bullying and many other cons of the social media as a justification that it does not promote the freedom of speech. However, the weight of the role the social media plays in the freedom of expression is much more substantial than the critics.
Critics are quick to mention that with the social media, there is a misuse of the freedom of expressions. They cite bullying and many others. They also claim that there is limited control over what people say and hence can misuse their freedom and result in infringement of the freedom of others. However, this allegation is outweighed by the fact that social media has user-generated content which is very important in the management of the freedom of expression. Many organizations encourage their users to air their views freely through the Twitter handles, Facebook and many others so that they can express their will, contribute to the community and also interact with others. This kind of expression is boosted by the fact that social media has user-generated content which allows whoever has posted the idea or issue to be discussed to have some regulations between the users and the organization as a way that will enable limited intimidation by those whose aim is to cause frustration a bully others with a view to limit their freedom of expressions (Ghannam, 2011). The user content also allows the organization or the individual who has posted an idea to be shared a chance to either narrow the restrictions or make them very broad to allow for more views and also to protect the expression rights of all those involved. It is essential at this point to note that unless the law has restricted some speech, the organization can put restriction which is significant to the ongoing discussion. For instance, the organization is given a chance to ensure that any message which seems to be limiting other peoples' freedom of speech, for example, bullying, violent massage aimed at another user can be deleted immediately before they reach the intended individuals. Alternatively, the organization is also mandated in the content to moderates any massage which has a significant point but is intended to hurt or intimate another user with an aim to shut him or her out and limit his or her freedom of expressions. They can make the message general and harmless t to allow them to express themselves freely. This way is undoubtedly right that the social media enhances freedom of speech than face to face situations or through other Medias. Take for instance other media such as television radios and videos. It is not once or twice where we have witnessed many people abusing each other or intimidate them and deny them the freedom to express themselves. This is limited by the user content in the case of social media.
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Social media provide security and privacy which enhances the freedom of speech. The critiques are always quick to point at some securities issues with the social media which they claim make it limit the freedom of expression. They claim that social media is traceable and in case the user expresses him or herself in a manner which does not go well with a certain class in the political field or any other; they may be traced and harmed. According to them, this limits the freedom of expressions. However, it would be better to express yourself in the social media than the radio or the Television or any video where you have to be seen, and your voice has to be heard. Social media provide an option of including one’s picture and credentials. These can be changed in case one feels threatened as a result of expression or contribution she or he has made in the social media. Though this has not been used by the right people in most cases, it is a feature which is meant for a person to camouflage so that he may avert the threat as he or she fights for the freedom of the society or their rights. This feature provides two important things of the freedom of speech. First, it assures the users that their privacy is guaranteed and they should express their thought feely as long as they are contributing positively to the community. This acts as a motivating tool for the users to feel free to speak on matters affecting the nation or the community whether the issues are sensitive or not. The next is security which is also very important in ensuring that the user is protected from those people who aim at intimidating them through counterattacks which are designed at personal harm with an intention to have the user shut down and threatened to either leave the topic or search another one. This is very important in allowing the user to air their view with fewer intimidations confidently.
Social media invoke confidence in people which is very important in the freedom of expression. Critics of the social media as a tool used to boost freedom of expression claims that due to many intimidations from other users, social media limit the freedom of expression by making the user panic due to such written expressions. It is worth noting at this point that this allegation carries less meaning. Social media is the best regarding invoking someone who has no confidence to face audience to express themselves. Take for example a debate on the Television, video podcast or even audio interview or discussion on the radio. These are other kind of media which aims at allowing the freedom of expression. If someone wants to express himself or herself and has never done so before or has never express herself or himself in front of a massive audience, for instance, the entire world in the BBC Television, such individual will panic. On the other hand, even if such individual is good at expressing himself, but has never done so, they will also panics (Youmans & York, 2012). Not many people can withstand the power of direct criticism on a face to face manner. For instance, during political campaign and turmoil, many people are brought to Television Debate and interviews to express their view on the political situation in the country. As the custom, in the USA, you are either Democrat or Republican. To maintain a whole debate, they normally bring individuals from both sides and one neutral individual who act as a political analyst. In this kind of debates, we have witnessed time and again intimidation from one party with an aim to bush the opposing side and make them inferior in such way that they don’t express themselves freely. A good example is the last presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and current President Donald Trump. There was an apparent intimidation attempt from Donald Trump with an aim of limiting Hillary's freedom to express herself and polish her opinion. Many examples can be cited in this case. Another example is where two people debates on a specific issue and one person is incredibly eloquent in the language they are using to express themselves while the other one is not. There will be an apparent lack of confidence by the person who is not eloquent, and she or his freedom of expression will be limited. This is not true when it comes to the use of social media. With social media, you are who you are. In this case, you have the confidence, and you believe in yourself since "you do not have to face personal and intimate criticism or nerves because you do not have to see anyone who may be critical about you.” Written information where there is no need to be head by the mass, and also we don't need to face a group of people is very paramount in the freedom of expression for those who have low self-esteem. It is also a healthy way to have a debate since one has to compose him/her even with criticism in place since you have no idea who you are speaking to; they are not hearing you or looking at you, but just reading what you have written. For freedom of expression, one has to have the confidence to speak out their mind or views. If there is a place to gain this kind of confidence is the social media. It has all the mechanism to enhance confidence which is very paramount in the expression.
In conclusions, social media is a tool which enhances freedom of expression in the populace. With social media, many issues which improve freedom of speech are guaranteed. First, social media guarantees privacy to the user, it also guarantees the security to the users, and this makes them have the confidence which is much needed in this case to express themselves. With social media, the users dare to compose themselves and face the world with written information which carries their perception on a particular issue which matters to them. Critics have aired continuously their view claiming that social media restrict freedom of expression. They insist on the subject of privacy and many others. However, their allegations carry less evidence as compared to the evidence which supports the fact that social media is a powerful tool for freedom of expression.
References
Ghannam, J. (2011). Social Media in the Arab World: Leading up to the Uprisings of 2011. Center for international media assistance , 3 , 19-34.
Youmans, W. L., & York, J. C. (2012). Social media and the activist toolkit: User agreements, corporate interests, and the information infrastructure of modern social movements. Journal of Communication , 62 (2), 315-329.
