Managing Social Conflicts Online
May 16, 2008 Social Media 11 Comments
As social media users, we are constantly exposed to a variety of opinions that don’t necessarily align with our own. With so many people from various cultures, backgrounds, beliefs, religions, and political affiliations are interacting with each other, it is inevitable that they will clash at some point. I have witnessed a variety of reactions to offensive stories on social media sites. There are users who will turn a blind eye, users who upmod or bury stories, some who offer comments and those who file reports with host sites. Based on that, I decided to evaluate the importance of sharing independent viewpoints and the ethics of managing a social media site.
Before the growth of social media, people got their global news by traditional mediums like the newspaper, television and the radio. However, there is a major shift happening where an increasing number of people are pulling information from the internet exclusively. Social media has effectively democratized information. It allows users to share news and provide input. It is now rare to only receive a one-sided story. And because of this medium, users are more apt to share their perspectives. As in real life, this causes conflict between users with opposing beliefs.
The moment an opinion is shared online, the subject is opened up for the world to respond. Users will receive instantaneous feedback, whether it is for or against their position. They should also be prepared for exposure to stories and comments that are against their beliefs. There is minimal censorship occurring in social media, so tolerance is imperative. If you want to come and play online, be ready for a variety of viewpoints. It is exciting, interesting and above all, educational.
An important question to ask is whether or not the social media site should get involved in a conflict occurring between users. Often, site managers are asked to intervene in a complicated situation where people are arguing about very sensitive subjects like religion and politics. In order to avoid a catastrophic public reaction, it is wise for the site to stay clear of arguments amongst their users. It should show that it respects the viewpoints of both parties. If the managers sway in one direction and show preference to a single user, it will only incite a larger problem. As long as the story does not incite hate or harm, the site should remain neutral. The only role that a social media site should have is banning those who violate their Terms of Service. Obviously, they also have every right to reprimand those who harass and threaten others.
Users need to learn to be socially responsible and open their minds to different points of view. By joining a social news site, you are accepting the fact that you are going to see all kinds of stories. If you don’t agree with them, you have the right to downmod the story and write a comment stating your own viewpoints. The point, after all, is to be heard in a public forum, no matter where you stand.


