Better social media literacy

FILE - In this June 19, 2017, file photo, a user gets ready to launch Facebook on an iPhone, in North Andover, Mass. Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission said in a statement Monday, Feb. 5, 2018, that Facebook is violating city and state laws that require disclosure of who pays for political advertising. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

THERE is no system or application that is perfect. With information and communication technology and its related systems, we are experiencing a situation where a lot is desired in the course of using the Internet and its applications, including social media.

This is not to say social media is evil. Rather, it is a tool for engagement and has both positive and negative consequences depending on how it is used. Social media is a double-edged sword where both edges are sharp. Its use can be seen in the analogy of a knife, which can be a tool for cutting food but can also be used to commit a crime.