One of the human rights stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as adopted by the United Nations in 1948 is and I quote..
”Right to freedom of speech and expression”.
I was teaching this particular topic to some junior students at school when I saw a hand raised up by one of the students and when I gave him audience,he asked ”Ma, since we have freedom of speech, does it mean that I can say whatever I feel like?
I smiled at him before giving him an answer which was a big point ”No”. Just because we have freedom of speech does not mean that we can just get up and say whatever from our mouths. Social media has really given so many people who can't come forward, a platform for voicing out their complaints, opinions and ideas on particular subject matters and most times, when the voices of the people are strong and firm, they can effect a change on a particular matter.
Our ideas or opinions shared via social media can only be a basis for dismissal when it infringes on other's rights and cause damage to the organization or to to others. We should understand that we are responsible for our actions and it should not affect another person negatively.
If our opinions should be voiced through social media, then it should be done within the bounds of ethics and morality. If I were to be an employer of labour, I doubt that I would appreciate my workers going online to air out dirty linens. That's the reason why most organizations have worker's union. Grievances, ideas or opinions can be passed across through this union body to the organization adminstration for a change or implementation.
I recall a story a colleague of mine was gisting me about a guy she knew who was dismissed from an organization. Apparently, this guy in question had posted things that were bad about the said organization and some years later, he sought for employment at the same organization he had bad-mouthed on social media. A quick digging into his social media profile exposed him and he lost that job.
Even though social media is a free hub,we should mind how we say what we want to say because of the future. Most organizations get their employees to sign contracts that would disallow their employees from just spouting anything on social media or else legal action would be taken and such an employee would face dismissal.
I am not against calling out folks on social media handles but I would like to say that how we say what we say is as important as what we have to say.
I recall some years back after the Covid-19 saga, that the incumbent president of Nigeria as at that time passed a bill to the Senate for approval. The bill was to target hate speeches online. The goal of that bill had it been passed into law was that anyone who spoke I'll of the current government would be charged and tried in court. Thankfully, the bill was not passed because it infringed on the human rights of the Nigerian Citizens.
Social media can be a tool for destruction or for power and change. I believe in the latter and it starts by watching how we say what we want to say.
Thank you all for reading. This is my response to the #hivelearners initiative w171 e3
Images used are mine.