Freedom of Expression on the Internet

Argumentative Essay Practice 19 Question: ‘People should be allowed to express themselves freely on social media.’ What are your views? Step 1: Defining your key words 1. “People” – specific to this question, I suppose it will be fair for us to assume/define that people refers to netizens/users of social media platforms 2. ‘express themselves freely’ – with emphasis on the word ‘freely’  Free online expression for users means that there is little to no censorship on social media platforms in terms of the content/messages that users post out  If we assume the extreme, this also means that all forms of expression – regardless of vulgarities, nudity, defamation, death threat, bullying posts, etc.  would be permissible online  When we think of ‘freely’ in terms of such great liberty to commit indecent acts online, it becomes easier for us to take a stand on this issue 3. ‘social media’ – in order to define such a broad category, it could help to give your readers some context. Give some examples of social media platforms • Traditional media platforms include TV, newspapers, radio, etc.  although many of the broadcasting stations/press publishing house is also switching their media formats and engaging in online modes (ST app, radio as podcast, etc.)  Some ways that social media differs from traditional media: 1. Recent phenomenon vs. Age-old media format  The rise of social media platforms is relatively recent phenomenon that emerged shortly after the rise of the Internet: it has evolved for decades, from the initial start- ups that had very basic/rudimentary functions to the sophisticated and complex platforms we have today, which also happen to be multi-million dollar platforms

2. Experience with boundaries of expression (due to its datedness)  As a relatively new phenomenon/media format, authorities and laypersons alike are still in the process of figuring out what are the limits of expression/boundaries that should be set and followed in the foreign medium 3. Degree and type of participation by audience and content-producers  For traditional media, the relationship between content producers and audiences/viewers/readers is very different  Most of the time, engaging in traditional media platforms is to be involved in a largely one-sided relationship  Audience of television shows are receiving information, and hardly can provide instantaneous responses and feedback to the producers, or to communicate in real- time with other viewers  This is the same for the newspaper medium – readers’ only channels of communication to writers/journalists and other readers is through weekly forums that editors selectively pick out to publish on papers  However, with social media platforms, the fact that it operates on the Internet makes the type of participation vastly different  The differences between the Internet and traditional media is its ability to connect many peop