Social Media
Topic: The impact of social media during the covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia
People have already relied on social media to collect information and news prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, and people in many countries have relied on social media to obtain information about the virus since the outbreak in December 2019. People in Malaysia, moreover, rely on social media. Internet use is strongly associated with health information-related behaviors; users write on different social media platforms about their health. We believe in Malaysia and many other affected countries that there are two problematic categories of social media sharing of information that make the situation worse. First, the sharing by the public, the authorities or third parties of the personal information of patients and their families, and secondly, the sharing of fake news or false information. The sharing of personal data increases the risk of stigmatization, prejudice and blame. There is an increased risk that the public may begin to openly blame patients with COVID-19 for initiating infection clusters. Sadly, their actions resulted in further criticism being raised against them. These three examples show that protecting the privacy of patients in a pandemic is a critical step in discouraging stigmatization, discrimination and blame.
Feelings
What were you thinking and feeling?
I think it is important that, in the event of a pandemic such as COVID-19, the authorities take the necessary measures in media social is important as it needs the people to gather latest data of news about Covid-19. In my opinion, media social helps the society to connect their self to others and release some tension and stress during the quarantine times. Hard times during pandemic which causing so much company and career are damaged and some are forced to closed. Unemployment hiked. Hence, people are trying to look at new initiatives on online businesses such as Sugarbomb, Chococrunch, selling homemade cooking and etc. Online businesses are spreading a lot in media social as to promote their products. Apart from that, We have seen many fake news and scams spreading widely in social media. Consequently, it creates stresses, anxiety among some society with a low coping mechanism.
Evaluation:
What was good and bad about the experience?
There is a few good side and bad side. The good side that the impact of social media during the covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia is the crisis highlights social media's specific strengths in how they can be used for the second kind of purpose; that is community and emotional support. I'm thinking about the many funny videos about how people deal with the lockdown creatively, the neighbourhood Facebook groups that organize entertainment and practical support to assist neighbours who need help with grocery shopping or childcare, and the rapid rise of apps and features that allow multiple people to live chat and video sessions. The bad side of the impact social media during the covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia is where we have to warn of social media's dark side and its role in spreading fake news. Platforms have been slow to recognize their duty to help users of platforms differentiate fake news from facts, but they are taking steps in the right direction. Instagram, for instance, announced that only COVID-19 related posts and stories that are published by official health organizations are included in their recommendation section. In general, my advice is to cross-check the data you receive through social media with at least two other sources of information, such as government websites and high-quality news outlets. Moreover, by not further spreading rumours through our social media accounts, we also all have a role to play.
Conclusion
What else could you have done?
Action plan
If it arose again what would you do?
Malaysian government prepared real sources through Majlis Keselamatan Rasmi (MKM) in facebook, telegram and twitter which covered all latest real news about Covid-19 updates. The MKM is responsible for coordinating policies related to national security and instructions on security measures, public order and matters involving security. The actions help citizens to refer and search for updated and the latest sources in preventing fake news.
I conclude that wise behaviour in using Social media is a need for every society. An online platform has been developed by the Malaysian authorities that allow the public to check all information shared across social media for facts. The hard part is ensuring that members of the public behave ethically. To prevent them from being stigmatized, press statements and news reports that assign blame on patients for 'spreading COVID-19' should be avoided. It is necessary to jointly improve the health and social media literacy of all citizens. Malaysian government prepared real sources through Majlis Keselamatan Rasmi (MKM) in Facebook, telegram and Twitter which covered all latest real news about Covid-19 updates. The MKM is responsible for coordinating policies related to national security and instructions on security measures, public order and matters involving security. The actions help citizens to refer and search for updated and the latest sources in preventing fake news.
