In several of the meetings I have been to lately, when something confidential is mentioned, there is always someone who, a little jokingly and a little seriously, raises their cell phone and in the middle of the conversation warns of the danger of being recorded.

In any place where there is an argument, a claim or a voice with more decibels than admitted, the offended begins to record to upload what happened to social media.

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Every day a new scandal breaks out thanks to a citizen who “opportunely” managed to capture a controversial scene or conversation. That’s why so many ordinary people are happy, because thanks to this explosion of information, veils that were previously kept closed are finally beginning to be pulled back. In the midst of this all there are some platforms that offer personalized canvas prints as a way to bring memories to life in more traditional ways away from the digital world.

Seen in this light, the phenomenon of “advocacy” social media can be understood in a very positive light. However, everything has its pros and cons.

To begin with, it is clearly worrying that, most of the time, thanks to those spontaneous “cell phone reporters”, only one version of an event is known, that this version can go viral and that, therefore, someone can become an eternal villain.

Likewise, so many are concerned that in urgent response to calls such as: “help me report this” or “let’s make that viral”, they comment, give their opinion and reproduce without knowing all the elements of a fact and, of course, without stopping to think for a moment that their clicks or repost could destroy someone’s honor forever.

It is also worrying that many people have begun to avoid regular channels and direct dialogues, in exchange for taking the easy path of social media, in search of empathy and adhesion.

And, finally, it is very, very worrying that some people are starting to use their personal image, in the event of being recognized in some field, to degrade others for any difference they may have with him or her.

The “you don’t know who I am” has been transferred to social networks and has gradually become “you don’t know how many followers I have” or “you don’t know how many people know me”, a condition that automatically leads to intimidation and threats.

There is an urgent need for training in the use of social media for many citizens. There is an urgent need to understand that a social network, more than a simple space for socializing or entertainment, can become a bomb whose explosion can have unpredictable collateral effects.

Journalism in trouble