0=[]::::::::::::::::>
Today is [was] a special day on Bestnaija. And today I wish to discuss a very critical topic: Surviving Internet Pollution In A Digital Age.
You'd wonder: what is Internet Pollution?
To understand this, let's look at physical pollution.
Pollution /pəˈluːʃ(ə)n/
noun
Example: "the level of pollution in the air is rising"The presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects.
Similar: contamination, contaminating, adulteration, adulterating, tainting, impurity, fouling, befouling, foulness, dirtiness, dirtying, soiling, filthiness, infection, infecting
Opposite: purity
From the definition of pollution above, we can identify some keywords:
1. Environment
2. Substance
3. Introduction into or Presence in
4. Harmful or poisonous effects
We can quickly conclude that there exists an environment which can be regarded as safe until a substance is introduced or becomes present, and then the substance has harmful or poisonous effects on the users of the environment.
That harmful or poisonous substance is the pollutant.
We know examples: water pollution, air pollution and more.
Now, let's talk about the Internet.
The Internet is another special environment where everyone takes in data or information just like the air we breathe in. What happens when the air we breath in becomes polluted with say Sarin gas? Death!
Now, the information we consume online affect our thinking, our views and our judgements and our decisions, and hence out lives.
Are there pollutants online?
The answer is YES!
Let's identify these:
1. Fake news
2. Hate speech
3. Discrimination, racism and tribalism
4. Vulgarisms
5. Illegal drugs and items
6. Scams and fraud Iinfluences
7. Pornography (Don't argue this)
8. Spam
9. Ostentatious fake lifestyles
10. Injustice
11. Violence and glorified crime
12. Junk, useless content
13. The list goes on and on...
Wow! That's a whole lot of load of pollution out there.
Why do I classify them as pollution?
Simply because they don't influence us for good! They misinform us and influence us for bad! Do you agree?
Now, what effects do these really have on us? Especially young generation?
IT IS SERIOUS
Online or internet information pollution is serious matter because we are in digital age. We research online before making decisions. We exchange information online. We do almost everything online now. Then we must keep our sanity online.
EFFECTS OF ONLINE POLLUTION
1. Misinformation
2. Mal-information
3. Un-information and bad choices
4. Distorted views
5. Unethical standards
6. Immoral life
7. Illegal practice
8. Career problems
9. Bad relationships
10. Violence
11. Even death
12. The list goes on and on...
HOW TO SURVIVE:
1. Watch what you eat!
There's a popular saying in food science: YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.
By watching what we consume online, then we can save our eyes and heart and head.
Have you ever seen something online and you wished you could press the UNSEE BUTTON?
Happens many times.
The solution is to watch which websites you visit, which people you follow and so on.
2. Set a limit
Set a limit to how deep you go online and be serious with it.
3. Discipline to say NO and Stop!
Stop following the link. Caution yourself.
4. Research before trusting news sources. On Bestnaija we try to screen content before promoting especually on front page.
5. Develop yourself and have a strong mind. Don't believe everything.
Verify all information before acting on them.
6. Be sure before sharing.
Don't just share as received. If you continue to share unverified information without verifying, you're making yourself a cohort in propagating fake and harmful information.
WE MUST BE CAREFUL
Our decisions are based on information we have. If you have information online that a tribe is bad, you may break up with your soulmate because of that. Now you can see how far reaching the effects of bad info can be.
We must be careful before we let information gotten online to influence us.
WHAT BESTNAIJA HAS DONE
On Bestnaija, we want to pride in quality information. Not on junk and scrapped content.
This is a tough job. But with cooperation of everyone, we can maintain a clean community.
We frown at fake news, plagiarism, vulgarism, tribalism, illegalism, obscenity, gambling, pornography, violence, hate speech, injustice, and other vices that can negatively affect young minds.
If we had the power, we want to build a safer internet.
WARNING
To earn coins, don't turn Bestnaija to a dump ground. We value quality.
Stay safe, family.
Much love.
Bon anniverssaire!
