Social networks : Double-sided channels

In recent years, social networks have become communication channels, of education and information par excellence. Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, Google and many other applications are visited by countless people on a daily basis. For everyone, the use of social networks has advantages but does not lack risks.

Firmin KASSAGA

The evolution of technologies has changed almost everything about humans. Communication and information have become more accessible. Social networks have taken a new flight and leave their users in a great endless addiction. No one can find a reason if they are reproached for lack of communication, even less if they did not have important information.. Social networks are therefore very useful.. For some people, they allow them to communicate, to get informed, to train and even to trade. Social networks have a completely different dimension than that thought by their creators.

Today, to do without them would be a big mistake. Odette H. says that thanks to social networks, she communicates easily, she can interact with people she has never seen and befriend them despite the distance. She adds : “Through these channels, I have access to current information, no matter where it comes from". In addition to these advantages, Roselin Amoussou, young active on social networks, claims that through these channels, he multiplies his activities and saves time. Quite simply, it's his office.

Some people take the opportunity to gain visibility, especially political figures., sportsmen, artists of all genres and now, influencers. Ulrich P. affirm that : “I am known today by thousands of people thanks to social networks. I share jokes, informations, videos of the unusual facts and many other things like articles and tips. Thanks to this I earn my living and I make new acquaintances ».

Social networks are not only means of communication, information and training, they are also channels through which one can promote products and even proceed to the sale of products and articles. However, their use remains sensitive for some, in particular Jacques who keeps the consequences of the bad use he had to make of these networks. " Unintentionally, I shared a video of me on the web. That day, I almost committed suicide because it was about my private life”, does he regret. He finds that if one is not vigilant, we can commit the irreparable because he underlines “When we share on the networks, it's for everyone".   

“On social networks, all is not often rosy », adds Ephrem V. activist and blogger. The latter in a telephone interview warns that, although rich in advantages, social networks are not lacking in risks especially when the use is badly done. He justifies himself by saying : “When we decide to subscribe to a social network, we do not bother to see the openness to the world that this offers us. We publish, send our photos regardless of the quality, ignoring that it may harm us later. We see some young people using the different channels to make money illegally. This means that all publications on the sale of a product are no longer taken seriously.. Likewise, S. Leonardo finds that social networks carry enormous risks for him : “Not everyone on it is safe in the sense that a malicious person can hack into another’s account and gain access to all of their sensitive and intimate conversations and they can even publish them. Everything you put on social networks can be used for other purposes, both photos and information.. Data may be distorted or even alternated. »

This means that the use of social networks is of great importance, but it must be done with great vigilance.. Because we run several risks by accessing it. Misinformation, l’intoxication, the blackmail, the scam are some of the risks run by Internet users.