The Internet Could Be a Good Thing Or Not

Having access to information at your fingertips sounds great. This is what technology has to offer. Of course, access comes with not so good things as well. In terms of privacy, using a global positioning system application, for instance, can collect and store data on one's whereabouts. And for information, greater access can also mean greater misinformation. With Facebook, sharing has become too easy that most do not even ask the question if something is indeed worth sharing or not, or more importantly, if the information is correct or not.

The innovative educator blog has provided the following rules:
If you have not verified something is true, keep it to yourself.
If you don’t have the time to verify it, keep it to yourself.
If you like the idea, and don’t care if it’s verified, keep it to yourself.
If you don’t care if it’s true, you think it is interesting and want to share, keep it to yourself.
If you can't help yourself because you love sending spammy chain messages to people, resist the urge, keep it to your self.

If you don’t want to keep it to yourself, you are being an irresponsible digital citizen and that makes your friends uncomfortable and suspect of what you say and share.

Don’t be that person.

The above is in response to messages that have gone viral over the weekend on social media. I, too, have not only seen this message on my wall, but also have received the following on my messenger from several friends.



Time provides the following advice:
So what should you do if you receive one of these hoax messages? Nothing. Delete the message and move on.
If you are worried you might be the victim of Facebook cloning, try searching for other versions of your account and report duplicate profiles to Facebook.
These are times when one really has to worry whether the internet is a gift or curse. I think this is one important reason why the internet with all its potential, has not really given that much to the improvement of basic education. At this point, we are more likely to be misinformed than informed.


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