4 questions to ask before posting on social media

THE EDITOR: Last week while scrolling through Facebook I clicked on an uncaptioned video that looked like a house on fire in Trinidad.

A few minutes into the video I realised it was a recording of a horrific incident where a family including a child was being burnt alive. The screams coming from the residence has haunted me ever since.

The person recording the video seemed very calm, comfortable and with no empathy went on to narrate the scene. That situation reminded me of an article I read on barefoot law about the right of privacy, especially to the family of deceased individuals.

Lately, pictures of dead people, victims of crimes and gruesome incidents, are widely shared on social media, including WhatsApp and Facebook, with little or no self-regulation. These pictures are usually horrendous and disturbing and many people would certainly be displeased with having to see them strewn all over the internet and social media platforms.

With publications of this kind circulating more and more frequently, we should as the following question: is sharing such images unlawful? In hindsight publications of certain pictures of victims of crimes or dead people could cause much stress and emotional strain, especially to their loved ones.

People, before you publish or share any pictures and/or videos on your social media platforms, I urge you to reflect and be guided by these questions that I have borrowed from Rotary International’s “Four-Way Test” of the things we think, say or do: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Let us become more sensitive to other people's pain and develop empathy towards each other. Please remember not everything is for social media.

NIGEL SEENATHSINGH

San Fernando