It is a jungle out there on most of the top social media websites. People are liking, sharing, making hashtags, using reaction emojis, trolling, abusing, etc. The question here is are we having focused conversations and discussions on social media websites, or are we only wasting time on all that clutter that is flying around?
You might check out about 20-40 posts on social media websites every day, but only to see about 1-2 meaningful conversations. In most cases, the objective of the communication is lost due to trolls and deviations towards irrelevant topics.
The main responsibility of facilitating meaningful conversations likes in the hands of the admin(s) and moderators. They should be active to see if the communication is moving in the right direction, or not. They should send warnings to the deviators and spammers if they find them sabotaging the conversations.
However, it becomes difficult for them to manage the groups if there are thousands of active members. In such cases, it is not easy to read all the posts on an everyday basis to do the policing. Things can go out of hand, and many members lose interest in the group.
Another problem is if the admin is biased and is always unwilling to listen to the opposing opinions. Now that can pose a big problem in allowing meaningful conversations. Many members can feel frustrated if their opinions are always sidelined or trivialized. The group becomes more like a propaganda machine and not a place for encouraging diverse expressions.
It is not easy for many users to digest such chaos and biasness. It could also lead to mental health issues. The solution for initiating meaningful conversations might not be easy on big social platforms. The good news is that there are other networking sites where that have better systems in place to encourage focused discussions.
Look for alternative social platforms:
For example, Democracy Social Network is fast becoming popular among people for participating in focused talks. It was started with the vision of resolving the mental issues that people face on normal social media websites. This social network is more focused on creating a human and authentic experience for the members.
The main highlight of this platform is the democratic environment where all the members have a say, even if the admin does not appreciate the opinions within the framework or guidelines. Here the members can call for the poll to appoint a new admin. The original admin will lose the position if he/she loses the vote. If you are looking for meaningful discussion on social media, you should check out this platform
How to have meaningful conversations on social media –
- Respect the opinions of others. You don’t have to agree with all the opinions, but you can nevertheless acknowledge them.
- If you wish to refute anyone, do so in a polite way. Don’t offend them by using rude or abusive language.
- Focus on the issue and not the people. That will allow for objective discussions.
Most importantly, don’t get too emotional on social media. Try to stay away from serious discussions if you are too worked up or under the influence of alcohol.