Kylie Lang on why social media has made the world a worse place
Remember when the sneakiest thing you could do on social media was to use a filter to enhance a photo and not tell anyone?
Bung on a bit of Clarendon, Juno or Valencia and make your images pop.
Then it became cool, even though some people clearly cheated, to use the hashtag #nofilter – as if you were really a closet photographic genius.
Ah, Instagram, how tame you were back in the day – 2010, that is, a mere 15 years ago.
Now, as social media platforms have multiplied so has the deceit they allow people to portray as true.
And I'm talking about more than the 'look-at-me-and-my-fabulous-life-bet-you're-jealous' posts.
Social media has become sinister and the minds of users have become sicker.
You might say it's chicken and egg stuff – which came first? – but I'd wager that anti-social behaviour of the chronic kind we've been seeing recently is a direct result of these unregulated online platforms.
The greed of profit-ravenous tech giants has decimated human decency.
Bullying like never before, revenge porn, deepfake nudes and the online abuse of children including by other children are bordering on commonplace.
But as those of us who recall life before social media rightly demand better responses – from our schools, our parents, our politicians and critically the tech behemoths – there is another degree of moral corruption going on.
Let me give you two examples.
When a young man allegedly brutally attacked a middle-aged bus driver last Friday evening at Brisbane's South Bank station, passengers were eager to film it.
The distressing footage was then uploaded to social media.
Did no passenger think to immediately go to the driver's aid? Why was their first thought, where's my phone?
The lure of a twisted type of fame on social media is strong.
We see it also when students are brawling on school grounds. Rather than break up fights, onlookers are hanging back and filming them.
They're getting kicks out of another's suffering and using it to boost their social media engagement.
Now to the case of a Queensland mother accused of torturing her baby for social media kudos.
The 34-year-old was charged in January over allegedly drugging her infant to get clicks and money from the content she posted on TikTok.
As if those allegations aren't horrendous enough, this week The Courier-Mail revealed a number of people have created copycat social media accounts.
The fake accounts use the family's name and previously posted images and videos.
Pathetic? You bet.
David Tuffley, who lectures in applied ethics and cyber security at Griffith University, says there is 'a thriving black market' for TikTok accounts.
The aim of these fakes, Dr Tuffley says, is to attract followers then monetise the accounts through advertising, soliciting donations or selling them on the black market.
Staggering to think from October to December last year, TikTok stopped more than 10.47 billion fake likes on its content due to inauthentic engagement and fake accounts activity, according to Statista data.
Stan Karanasios, a professor in information systems at the UQ Business School, says there is no way of knowing how many fake accounts exist but the motive is to 'piggyback' on a person's legitimacy to 'lure people into believing you are trustworthy and (to) engage in scams and malicious activities'.
What a world we live in.
I wish we could shut down social media and make phones dumb again.
I wish TV shows like SeaChange and Seinfeld were being seen for the first time.
I wish people would escape to the country and not whine about the Wi-Fi. But just as we can't turn back time, we have to be present to what's happening now.
We cannot let ourselves be conditioned to accept heinous behaviour as the new norm simply because of the prevalence of it online.
There are many education programs around social media use, positive parenting in the digital age and how to keep yourself safe online – but they are not enough.
Until tech giants are properly held to account, people will continue to be pawns.
Kylie Lang is Associate Editor of The Courier-Mail
kylie.lang@news.com.au
Originally published as Kylie Lang on why social media has made the world a worse place
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
6 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Human remains located in search for Sunbury man Joshua Bishop missing for a month
Human remains have been located in the search for a young man who has not been seen in a month. Joshua Bishop, 23, was last seen by his housemate on Lalor Cres in Sunbury, northwest of Melbourne, at about 9.30pm on May 27. He was then reported missing by his mother two days later. There have been extensive searches at a park in Broadmeadows as his phone was tracked there on the same day he was last seen, but nothing was located. However on Saturday, police discovered human remains following the execution of a warrant at a home in Westmeadows. A 27-year-old man was arrested and is expected to be interviewed about the remains, which are yet to be formally identified. Police said the investigation is ongoing. Bishop's family had been using social media to spread the word about his disappearance, with a dedicated TikTok and Facebook page gaining traction. His parents previously made an emotional public plea for his return, with his father Travis saying they just wanted him home safe. 'We want him to know we love him, we're here for him,' he said. 'I don't know how people go through this.'
9 News
11 hours ago
- 9 News
Former Greens candidate in hospital after Israel protest arrest
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here A former Greens candidate who ran against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese "may lose the sight in one eye" after being injured in a protest in Sydney. Hannah Thomas, 35, was hurt in Belmore in the city's south-west during the heated protest on Friday morning. Images show her with one swollen eye closed and blood down her face. Hannah Thomas, 35, was hurt in Belmore in the city's south-west during the heated protest on Friday morning. (Instagram) NSW Police say around 60 protesters were blocking access to a business on Lakemba Street, which reportedly supplies materials to make weapons. Police said the protest was "unauthorised", and said some of the group didn't follow a direction to move on and were arrested. A police statement said a "scuffle" between police and protesters broke out. Thomas suffered facial injuries during the incident, with the Greens accusing police of being heavy handed. New South Wales Greens MLC Sue Higginson told The Guardian "it was possible she may lose vision in that eye." The Greens said in a statement: "NSW Police violently attacked and assaulted protestors at the "peaceful" picket. NSW Police said Thomas was taken to Bankstown Hospital. Images show Hannah bruised with a bloodied eye. (Supplied) The Greens says the factory is involved in making parts for F-35 jets, which are used by countries including Israel. Greens Senator and Justice Spokesperson David Shoebridge said: "When police are deployed to protect weapons companies instead of protecting the right to peaceful protest, we must ask whose interests they are really serving." Five people were arrested including climate protester Zack Schofield from Rising Tide. Another protester, aged 24, was arrested for allegedly taking a body camera worn by an officer. He was charged with larceny and goods in personal custody suspected being stolen A 29-year-old woman was charged with refuse/fail to comply with direction under part 14. A 41-year-old man was charged with use offensive language in/near public place/school. A 26-year-old man was charged with refuse/fail to comply with direction under part 14 and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty. They were all granted conditional bail to appear before Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday 15 July 2025. Thomas ran against Anthony Albanese in Grayndler in Sydney's Inner West in the last election. Her injuries are being reported on in Malaysian media, because her father is the nation's former attorney-general. Sydney Sydney police Protests Israel Israel Hamas Conflict national CONTACT US
Herald Sun
a day ago
- Herald Sun
Kylie Lang on why social media has made the world a worse place
Remember when the sneakiest thing you could do on social media was to use a filter to enhance a photo and not tell anyone? Bung on a bit of Clarendon, Juno or Valencia and make your images pop. Then it became cool, even though some people clearly cheated, to use the hashtag #nofilter – as if you were really a closet photographic genius. Ah, Instagram, how tame you were back in the day – 2010, that is, a mere 15 years ago. Now, as social media platforms have multiplied so has the deceit they allow people to portray as true. And I'm talking about more than the 'look-at-me-and-my-fabulous-life-bet-you're-jealous' posts. Social media has become sinister and the minds of users have become sicker. You might say it's chicken and egg stuff – which came first? – but I'd wager that anti-social behaviour of the chronic kind we've been seeing recently is a direct result of these unregulated online platforms. The greed of profit-ravenous tech giants has decimated human decency. Bullying like never before, revenge porn, deepfake nudes and the online abuse of children including by other children are bordering on commonplace. But as those of us who recall life before social media rightly demand better responses – from our schools, our parents, our politicians and critically the tech behemoths – there is another degree of moral corruption going on. Let me give you two examples. When a young man allegedly brutally attacked a middle-aged bus driver last Friday evening at Brisbane's South Bank station, passengers were eager to film it. The distressing footage was then uploaded to social media. Did no passenger think to immediately go to the driver's aid? Why was their first thought, where's my phone? The lure of a twisted type of fame on social media is strong. We see it also when students are brawling on school grounds. Rather than break up fights, onlookers are hanging back and filming them. They're getting kicks out of another's suffering and using it to boost their social media engagement. Now to the case of a Queensland mother accused of torturing her baby for social media kudos. The 34-year-old was charged in January over allegedly drugging her infant to get clicks and money from the content she posted on TikTok. As if those allegations aren't horrendous enough, this week The Courier-Mail revealed a number of people have created copycat social media accounts. The fake accounts use the family's name and previously posted images and videos. Pathetic? You bet. David Tuffley, who lectures in applied ethics and cyber security at Griffith University, says there is 'a thriving black market' for TikTok accounts. The aim of these fakes, Dr Tuffley says, is to attract followers then monetise the accounts through advertising, soliciting donations or selling them on the black market. Staggering to think from October to December last year, TikTok stopped more than 10.47 billion fake likes on its content due to inauthentic engagement and fake accounts activity, according to Statista data. Stan Karanasios, a professor in information systems at the UQ Business School, says there is no way of knowing how many fake accounts exist but the motive is to 'piggyback' on a person's legitimacy to 'lure people into believing you are trustworthy and (to) engage in scams and malicious activities'. What a world we live in. I wish we could shut down social media and make phones dumb again. I wish TV shows like SeaChange and Seinfeld were being seen for the first time. I wish people would escape to the country and not whine about the Wi-Fi. But just as we can't turn back time, we have to be present to what's happening now. We cannot let ourselves be conditioned to accept heinous behaviour as the new norm simply because of the prevalence of it online. There are many education programs around social media use, positive parenting in the digital age and how to keep yourself safe online – but they are not enough. Until tech giants are properly held to account, people will continue to be pawns. Kylie Lang is Associate Editor of The Courier-Mail Originally published as Kylie Lang on why social media has made the world a worse place
