Technology is a good thing. It enhances the scope of development, gives us easy access to information and provides numerous tools with which we can progress. But like all good things it comes with a high price.

The previous century’s last cataclysmic invention or rather technological advancement was the internet which revolutionised the world and altered our lifestyles drastically. Along with the launch of the World Wide Web, email became as remarkable an invention for us as the light bulb was for the nineteenth century folks or the wheel was for people of the stone-age. And then there was no stopping the software genii who, in the race to outwit each other are continuing to launch innovative tools to beat each other for the market share of the virtual world.

But the most insidious tool has been the social media network which has given us the intrusive world of Facebook and other offshoots like My Space, Twitter and numerous file sharing web-based options.

I am bound to offend many sensibilities (yet again) when I say that these so-called social networks are plainly voyeuristic tools that fan people’s peeping Tom tendencies and desires of exhibitionism. They might be doing good when spreading worthy messages but for the most part urge their followers to indulge in behaviour that attracts attention. I will cite a recent despicable incident to elucidate my point.

In a small city of British Columbia in Canada, a school party went terribly wrong for a sixteen-year-old girl when she was drugged and gang-raped by a dozen boys. As if their evil deed was not enough of a crime, one of them decided to video tape the incident and post it on Facebook. Needless to say that the images went viral in minutes and school kids were sharing it on every networking site they were on. The videos were watched publicly on IPhones and at playgrounds by kids as young as 10 and no one was ashamed or concerned about the criminal sense of the act or the fact that just by watching they were endorsing a crime. It was after one 12-year-old girl became traumatised and came home crying did the story leak out and was reported to the police.

Since then while the police have warned the public that anyone reposting the images or the video could themselves face child pornography charges, they are unable to stop the images from spreading despite being removed from Facebook.

The police have repeatedly given appeals, asking the public to come forward with any information they may have about the incident, but there has been no progress so far. Though the 16-year-old boy who allegedly took the photos and videos and posted them on Facebook was arrested; he was soon released without charges with a vague threat that he may be charged with child pornography in the future.

The incident is bone chilling as it symbolises the insensate conscience of youngsters who are beginning to look at criminal activities as a source of entertainment. It goes without saying that with the repeated viewing of this or any crime the target is victimised every time that the image is passed on through a public domain and re-distributed.

Why is it that the live viewing of crime carries entertainment value today? Should modern technology be held responsible for perverting our children or the permissive environment of the internet where every depraved material is easily accessible? Something is definitely dehumanising society to the extent that acts including blood, gore and perversion are almost becoming acceptable by youngsters who already have a jaded outlook of the world. Innocence can now only be found in the newborns but perhaps they too have already been tainted in the wombs by the external vibes of perversion that saturate our space.

Social networking sites lure thousands new members daily, opening multiple windows for users to wander into each others’ private domains. With millions of members enthralled by his website, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is riding high on the crest of fame and enjoying his fortune – he has been valued at $6.9 billion by Forbes magazine.

The tough question is whether these sites have given crime a new room to prosper or have just opened up an avenue for the criminal minded to fan their pervert desires. I am by no means implying that all users or even the bulk of the users fall into the criminal minded category. It is simply a loose question at this point to make social media users ponder upon the need for such intense scrutiny of every thought and movement made open to a public which includes criminals and perverts besides their close circle of friends.

And more to the point, is it really a necessary technological tool for our children’s advancement?

maheenrashdi@yahoo.ca