The recent and unfortunate tragedy of Amanda Todd highlights the power and influence of today’s social networks.  With Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, MySpace and others playing important roles in a growing social networking ecosystem the question of responsibilities of using those platforms and the appropriate consequences must be asked.  At its core, this is really a modern day version of the age-old issue of freedom of speech and expression.

Is it accessibility to Social Networks the issue?

Social networking sites are incredibly easy to join and access.  Anyone with an email address can open almost any social networking account and can immediately start posting comments, photos and videos.  Mobile apps exist for all of the major social networks so people can access their accounts from almost anywhere: home, work, school, the subway, a restaurant, a party – pretty much anywhere they can use their cell phones.

Let’s talk about censorship:

The internet, and most social networking platforms within it, is not censored.  The governments of different countries dictate what is and is not allowed on the internet within their borders.  Most countries defer to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but there are exceptions: China, for one, has heavy restrictions on Internet use.  In the business world, some companies have “codes of conduct” that outline what the company considers reasonable conduct for its employees that engage in social networks.  There have been cases where people have been disciplined or fired because of offensive or inappropriate comments they have posted on social networks.

So should Social Networks be censored?

While there are obvious risks, censorship does not belong in social networking.  People should have the right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression on social networks as they do in literature, art, music and other mediums.  We must never forget that in the past people have been persecuted for voicing their opinions on issues of race, sexuality, religion and equality – those same values that are so important to the world we live in today.

Of course, there should be exceptions in extreme cases such as hate speech, offensive remarks against race, sexuality or religious beliefs and child pornography, but these special cases are generally covered by governmental legislation.

While most people use these platforms with good intentions – to stay connected with family and friends, to promote a business, or to connect with a communities of like-minded people – there will always be those who use social networking for less desirable means.  Such has always been the case throughout the course of history and so it will continue with social networking.  In an ideal world such people would be ignored by the mainstream and only engaged by that minority of people who share their views, but unfortunately in today`s world of instant media access and gossip news reporting more of these incidents are making their way into our lives.

Further, it is saddening that some people intentionally leverage the freedoms of social networking to grab the spotlight.  In such cases we should look the other way and not reward them by discussing, and therefore spreading, their messages.