Should social media be regulated? (That is limiting freedom of expression)

Social media’s popularity is because it gives everyone with internet connection a chance to express opinions and share bits of their lives with the world. It is where previously unknown people have a chance to be heard by the world. It is through social media that what was previously considered a no-go zone topic during discussions can be explored freely. The beauty about these forums and discussions on social media is that they are not shoved in anyone’s face; one is free to engage in them just as they are free to walk away from them if they feel that they are out of their depth. They are liberal. We cannot bar people from sharing their minds just because we do not like what they have to say. As a source of information, social media is turning out to be more credible and timely that the traditional channels since news can be broken and passed by any one at the scene. Anyone with information and is willing to disseminate it is spared the trouble of having to go through the traditional media houses and channels that would edit it and water it down. The source himself can disseminate information more credibly avoiding omissions that reporters are known to make often. It is a cheap and accessible source of information. Who would not want to have that? As a connector, social media brings close those who share similar interests, beliefs and philosophies, which though they are miles away, distance doesn’t keep them from sharing what they stand for. As life is getting busier and faster, friends and colleagues have lesser time to catch up and social media platforms come in to fill the void. Though whatever is shared on these platforms can be a little bit too much for the eye at times it is never forcefully imposed on anyone. A majority of the platforms are also built in such a way that those who might feel offended by some users can block them out and limit their interactions with them. Regulating social media in the name of trying to ensure ethics and morality would not only censure freedom of expression, it will also limit access to information. Regulating social media would not do much to entrench morality in the youth or whoever the target is, it would only limit them and leave them to look for other channels where they will not be held back. Regulating it would also involve spying and eavesdropping which would use up a lot of resources that could be put to use in better ways. It would interfere with people’s privacy. Whoever is pushing for the regulation of social media is one who probably has something to hide and wouldn’t want it discussed on these platforms. If you don’t like it stay away. We cannot blame social media for moral decay or social problems, its benefits outweigh the little harm it does, after all even the fanciest cities have dark seedy alleys that may not be very pretty.