The Future's Cyber Life / Tragic Fight for Freedom

Another storm had just passed our country, few months after Typhoon Haiyan came and left many places in our country in shambles. This time, our country was prepared, with only minimal lives lost. But because of the storm, we have experienced more than twelve hours of power interruption and life started to crawl. So I took this time to read articles from magazines while resting after cleaning up some mess brought forth by strong winds.

I came across one article from Time Magazine that caught my attention.

The article, written by Jack Dickey, is entitled "The Antisocial Network: Inside the Dangerous Online World Kids Can't Quit", details the negative consequences of social media on children. Since the advent of social networks on the Internet, reports and concerns about cyber bullying are on the rise. With the establishment of new social networks and the increasing availability of smart phones to kids as young as seven, bullying in school has now become closer to one's own bedroom. (visit CNN's and Yahoo's coverage of the incident)

The almost constant feed of insults and harsh words bring teens to their miseries. Causing them to commit suicides because they just can't take it anymore. I knew in the past that Japan holds the most number of suicide cases, most committed by adults, due to pressures at work, life, or perhaps difficulty in finding a suitable spouse. Modern technology is quickly changing that.

Of course, the authors and owners of these social networking sites will not admit that it's not their fault. That they are just espousing freedom of speech, dynamic sharing of ideas, equality, among many others. True that they are not completely to blame, but they are not making things any better. Just as what the reports says, the owners of one social media site admitted that they are just after the profit.

This is the future that our kids are going to face. As adults and parents, how are we going to help our kids face this? Will this become the norm for our children's "rite of passage"? Will this be an inevitable possibility for all?

- photo credit to The Social Clinic

---

It's a tragic day to wake up into.

The first thing that popped from my Facebook's news feed was news from different networks and agencies about a downed Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, bound for Malaysia from Amsterdam. Initial reports say that the flight was shot down by Ukrainian rebels' surface-to-air missiles. The remains of the commercial passenger jet crashed in the rebel-controlled East Ukraine.

Investigations are underway, a temporary truce between competing forces are being discussed. International investigators are also on their way to study the crash scene and collect evidence. Hope they will find the real cause, whether it's a shooting or not. Our hearts and prayers go to the families of the innocent victims, all 298 of them.