Awareness in social media

DIRECTOR'S Cut: "I am your team leader and you are my teammates; together, let us work as a team." -- DepEd 11 Regional Director Gloria D. Benigno, CESO IV.

IT is timely that the theme of this year's National Schools Press Conference is "Campus Journalism: Championing the Ethics in Social Media." It reminds campus journalists and even ordinary students, teachers and the general public of their responsibility over the right of self-expression. It reminds them of their duty to be aware of what they post in their walls and tweet to their followers.

Maintaining an account to social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and the likes is like putting yourself to public scrutiny. You are putting your being “you” in those accounts. The “you” that will describe and say something about the character that you reveal.

It also put your life and properties in danger if you always update your status telling where you and family are going, the number of days you will be out and who is left in your house.

Status like, "I am alone in the house, so boring", "So excited, the whole family will go to Boracay for five days starting tomorrow" and the likes will tell burglars and other criminals to invade your abode and forcibly take your much treasured properties. However, putting an idea for discussion or a situation wherein your friends can give reactions can be a healthy and productive ways of using social media.

Venting your ire towards other people with fiery words and curse will not settle the matter between you and the person you are referring to. Unless you really have that hidden agenda of really destroying the said person, organization or group.

There are so many reasons why we could not have all we want. If you are not familiar with a person or an organization you are dealing with especially how it operates, then you need to respect them by not forcing the issue.

If we rely on our selfish desire to get even with a person, organization or company then we are inviting the bad evil spirits to intervene with us. There are so many acceptable, diplomatic ways and a lot of possible mending solutions we can do to patch up our difference. We should exhaust all of them. There is no place to haste, as haste means waste.

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Never do backbiting if you are afraid to voice out what you want or what is in your mind. You better shut your mouth as it would not be of help. Voice out to shut up is the key.

So, the next time you use your social media accounts, be always aware that your reputation and character are at stake on whatever you put on them. When money is lost something is lost but when character is lost, everything is lost.

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You can access DepED Updates, latest issuances and other relevant information through our website: region11.deped.gov.ph. and our official Facebook Page: http:// www.facebook.com/deped.regionxi For comments, suggestions and/or contributions, email depedregion11@gmail.com.

For queries, complains and other concerns, call DepEd Region 11 at (082) 227-9342 or fax to (082) 227-1102 and (082) 221-6147.