Social media has engaged users in many aspects of their lives, from
online marketing and shopping to networking and to the dissemination of news
and information. As more people embrace social media, many online platforms
proliferate. One such example in Singapore is the STOMP platform that was
created and is maintained by the Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), which aims to engage
netizens in the sharing of first-hand information. The STOMP official website
allows netizens to contribute articles and information via uploads of photos
and videos, as well as news articles on a real-time basis. However, it appears
that some netizens have been misusing it for online shaming which sometimes
tantamounts to harassment and the invasion of personal privacy. In some
instances, netizens resort to posting fabricated photos just to gain the attention
of fellow users. While STOMP involves netizens in the information sharing of
first-hand news, SPH should set guidelines to make sure photos and information
put up online are accurate, do not infringe privacy of others or constitute
harassment before they are approved to be disseminated.
A photograph of an elderly person standing in front of an NS man in
uniform seated in a train was posted on STOMP on 24 Mar 2014 by one of the
netizens. The netizen sparked a public outcry by complaining about the NS man’s
perceived lack of graciousness conduct for not giving up his seat to the
elderly. (Elderly woman stands, 2014) However, in actual fact, there was a
reserved seat meant for elderly citizens just a few seats away. The elderly probably
chose to stand. This post inevitably portrayed an inaccurate perception of the
NS man who by virtue of the uniform he was donning represents the Singapore
Armed Force. There was also a recent photo of a man who dozed off in a train.
The man inadvertently revealed his private parts as his legs were spread wide
apart while seated. (Be careful, guys, 2015) The photograph was shared on STOMP
on 28 Jan 2015 before going viral online. This had likely put the man to shame
and embarrassment. Some feel that SPH allows insensitive articles that had not
been rectified for their accuracy to be uploaded on STOMP at the expense of
other citizens. While SPH owns the site, it states in its terms and conditions
that it holds no responsibility and control over the content contributed by the
third-party users.
There was an online petition created by retail executive Robin Li in
April 2014 via an international campaigning site change.org for the closing
down of STOMP website as he felt that “STOMP had failed to rectify and set
simple sensible guidelines before any irresponsible netizen contributes a
fabricated story without getting the right facts.” To date, the petition has
gathered more than 24,000 signatures. It was unsuccessful in bringing STOMP down,
but garnered a response from the Singapore media regulator, the Media
Development Authority (MDA) to say that “it will not influence the editorial
slant of websites but will take firm action if there is a breach of public
interest or the promotion of racial and religious hatred or intolerance.”(MDA
responds to, 2014) While this message from MDA serves as a warning to citizen
contributors, articles such as the one depicting a man’s private may not be
deemed to fall within the category of breaching public interest or promoting
hatred and intolerance. In fact, the photograph was published on STOMP after
MDA’s response.
Notwithstanding the concerns with the Stomp Platform, a complete closure
of STOMP may be extreme as STOMP can still be an interactive platform supporting
citizen-journalism, which encourages interaction and sharing of first-hand
information amongst netizens almost on a real-time basis. SPH could perhaps step
in to regulate the content of reports submitted by contributors by filtering
articles containing elements of harassment or infringement of personal privacy prior
to being published online. When there is a video or photo uploaded that speaks
ill of a particular type of behaviour, SPH may need to make sure that the faces
of the featured citizens are blurred to prevent identification. While this
requires input from SPH in terms of resources and will invariably delay the
publication of articles submitted by contributors, such vetting could be
important in fostering a healthy online environment. Being the owner of the
platform, besides drawing to the attention of contributors that they are
responsible for the contents posted subject to the terms and conditions imposed
by SPH, SPH could perhaps include a checklist of the standards expected of the
contributors before they can post their articles. This is likely to promote
responsible online behaviour amongst them.
With the proliferation of such social media platforms allowing freedom
of contributors to post and share information, social responsibility from
contributors become paramount. If SPH steps in to moderate content posted on
STOMP, it can help to promote good social habit of contributors and create a
healthy online environment. (823 words)
References
Elderly woman stands right in front of him on MRT, but NSman simply acts
blur. (2014, March 24). STOMP official
website.
Retrieved from: http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singaporeseen/hey-goondus/elderly-woman-stands-right-in-front-of-him-on-mrt-but-nsman-simply-acts-blur
Be careful, guys! Don't let it slip while you sleep. (2015, January 28).
STOMP official website.
Retrieved from: http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singaporeseen/this-urban-jungle/be-careful-guys-dont-let-it-slip-when-you-sleep
STOMP official website. (n.d.). Terms
and Conditions.
Li. R. (2014, April). Close down STOMP.com.sg. Change.org.
HI, Paulette,
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