THUNDER BAY – Social media and technology can leave humanity behind. With instances of cyber-stalking ranging from mild instances to extreme cases that have led to suicide of the victims, the issue is attracting attention from legislatures.
Is Social Media a Digital Dart at Humanity?
Often people will shove a digital ‘Thumbs Down‘ online at individuals in a means that the person who is the target has little if any means of defending themselves. It is almost as if digital screens for some individuals is a means of stripping away humanity.
The latest findings from Ipso OTX appear to back up the reality that online via the Internet or social media that people will say and do things they usually would not say, or do in person. “Four in ten (43%) global respondents admit they say things in text/email that they would not say voice-to-voice or person-to-person”, according to the poll conducted among 18,502 adults in 25 countries by Ipsos OTX.
Ipsos OTX is a global innovation center for Ipsos, the world’s third largest market and opinion research firm.
Has Online Behaviour Overtaken the “Polite Canadian”?
Strong majorities in China (90%) and South Korea (80%) say they text or email things they would not say over the phone or in person. Seven in ten of those in Indonesia (76%), India (69%) and Saudi Arabia (67%) say so. Following next are Turkey (58%), Brazil (48%), Japan (46%), South Africa (45%), Argentina (42%), Mexico (42%) and Russia (39%). Only three in ten or less in most of the countries surveyed say they reserve some communication for text or email: Canada (34%), Australia (33%), France (33%), Great Britain (32%), Poland (32%), Belgium (31%), Italy (31%), United States (30%), Germany (25%), Hungary (24%), Spain (24%), Norway (22%) and Sweden (22%).
With 34% of Canadians it appears for most of Canada, the “Polite Canadian” remains in place.
Demographically, age appears to be the most significant variable as those under the age of 35 (54%) are considerably more likely than those aged 35-49 (41%) and those 50-64 (26%) to text/email things they won’t say out loud.
Education and Income Are Factors
Education is also a significant factor as half (50%) of those with a high level of education so they do so compared with four in ten among those with low (43%) and high (38%) education.
Similarly, income appears to be a factor as well (46% of those with a high level of household income will engage in the behavior compared with 43% of those with medium or low income). Women (44%) appear slightly more likely than men (42%) to say so.
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