New Media – Power to the people or threat to stability?

I agree that new media can be a threat to stability. New media provides much information for the people. While some might be useful, some might be a threat to stability to the country or even the entire human communities. Take for example, the terrorists may use the new media to brainwash the people’s mind to influence them to join terrorist activities. Since more satellite dishes are now available, the terrorists can now easily deliver extremists’ ideas to the people and manipulate their minds. This would then threaten the stability of the country if there were people who are successfully manipulated and are carrying out terrorist activities.

The new media can also be harmful to the society when people express extremist views on certain issues like racisms or posting illegal information or images. These may lead to discontentment in the affected group of people and they might start do the same things to those who hurt them. When this viscous cycle continues, the new media would then become a portal for people to quarrel and argue. In worst-case scenarios, riots might even break out.

Although new media can bring harm to the society, it has also brought power to the people. People all over the world have discovered profitable ways to incorporate blogging in their personal and business lives. For example, in Africa, the Mail and the Guardian hosted a blog for all politicians in recent local elections. This resulted in many comments and helped to encourage debate. Through this way, people are then engaged actively in the politics of their country. They can now express their views about the country and the governement have to response to them.

In conclusion, I agree to a large extent that new media has brought more of a threat to the stablility of people as the consequeses caused by it is simply too serious.