This document discusses the importance of truth and responsibility when posting on social media. It notes that many people share posts publicly that can influence opinions of others. When posting, it is important to consider perspective, remain neutral, and present both sides to allow for informed reactions based on facts rather than fabrication. Negative or false posts risk spreading misinformation and altering perceptions, so the truth is important to preserve, especially since many learn about current events from social media. Overall, the document advocates for only sharing truthful, balanced, and ethically appropriate content on social media.

1. As the use of social media becomes more prominent within society today, it is
important to recognize the level of responsibility and truth that should be considered
when constructing a post. Many individuals within society today share post after post for
the public to see. When constructing or sharing these posts, I think it is important to
consider the angle of the post and any reactions that may be received. While the subjects
and items that are posted on social media can be opinionated, it is important that the truth
remains within the post. When sharing a post, I think it is important that both sides are
presented and that the person posting it remains relatively neutral. This way when
comments and reactions come about, the individuals that are reacting are doing so based
on facts and not a fabricated version. Many individuals today receive their news and learn
about what is going on within the world from the stories and articles their friends are
sharing on social media. If a fabricated article or story is shared that is one-sided, the
individual that reads the article begins to make an opinion or takes away a false version
of what may really be occurring. What one individual posts can easily influence not only
their own opinion, but the opinion of others around them since so many stories today
become viral. This is due to the fact that friends of any individual, on various social
media accounts, spread the word through posting and sharing items that they have found
on their own or seen on another friend’s profile.
Along with the idea of responsibility and truth, there are both positive and
negative factors in regards to social media. Imagery and articles posted today, most often,
are trying to elicit some type of emotion. If a charity is trying to raise money, they may
post a video with sad pictures that is accompanied by a gloomy song. This way the
viewer will most likely experience empathy and donate to the organization in need. This
type of negative social media elicits a specific type of emotion that has been proven to
provide the type of result desired. Like the speaker states in the video, we have been
trained to experience this emotion and reaction when viewing this type of video. While I
think this type of social media post can be useful at times, positive social media can
accomplish the same goal. Including pictures that elicit happy emotions, but still speak
the truth and address any needs, can be more useful than relying on negative posts. At
times I believe positive social media posts can be more beneficial because certain posts
serve as the first line of defense when discussing a certain topic or story. If these posts
rely on the truth and do not simply exaggerate or fabricate sadness, the same affect can be
brought about and the individual learning about the story can learn the truth from the
beginning. If an individual is provided a fabricated story, he or she will come to associate
what they learned with the topic, without knowing that the information gained is false. If
the truth is later revealed, he or she would have to relearn and reestablish any knowledge
about the topic or story shared. Instead of creating as much work, it is better to just
include the truth from the beginning and refrain from using fabricated or false stories to
get a point across. The reaction in the end could be the same and the truth could remain
restored and not destroyed or altered.
While social media remains a pertinent part of society today, it is important to
preserve the truth. I believe this to be true, because I would like to be informed on the
truth and I often read the articles and stories that my friends share and post. If mainly
negative and fabricated stories were shared, I would acquire little truth and would have

2. an altered perception. This would not seem fair to not only me, but any individual that is
included within the story. Because of this, I feel that it is right to only post ethically
appropriate stories that include the truth and shy away from negative or false fabrications.
If society strived to do the same, there would be fewer chances for false information to
spread since social media tends to provide the gateway for pieces of information to go
viral and spread like wildfire.