The Online media’s Social Responsibility
From the rare snowstorm to the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, the cheers from the Beijing Olympics to the wave of financial crisis, Chinese Internet users have consistently demonstrated strong social concerns. The Internet, together with China, gradually matures amid the ups and downs. It’s difficult to get an appropriate word to describe the rapid development of the online media and its impact on social progress.
Online media has presented a huge influence on the community and the public, providing rich, effective information services to the largest number of audience within the shortest time. However, in order to obtain a high hit rate and cater to the audience of low grade, some online media are always keen to spread the superstitions, porn, violence and illegal advertisements.
Invasion of privacy has also become a prevailing problem on the Web. The Beauties in Nanchang University is a case in point. On Nov 16, 2008, a thread online titled \"All you need to know about the 50 beauties at Nanchang University\" was posted on mop.com; it provided names, photographs, and ages, subjects of study, addresses, phone numbers and online chat room IDs of the girls at the university. Within two days, the thread appeared on the front pages of major websites and stayed there for quite some time. The consequence, however, has resulted in nothing but harassment for the 50 girls. They are the victims of the online media striving to increase website traffic by hook or by crook. The website increased its hits at the expense of these girls.
From this case, the lack of the sense of responsibility on online media has been totally emerged. Online media operators carefully select entries that are sexy, controversial and morally problematic and put them on the main page of their websites or on top of their forums to lure people. It is true that the Internet's strength lies in sharing of information. Yet what kind of information should be shared and how much of that information should be revealed?
There are other cases that involve the so-called human flesh search engines, \"Muzi Mei,” “Sister Lotus\" and other network phenomena. All these trigger a large shock to our cultural traditions and values, and continue to challenge the social and moral bottom line.
The principles that apply to the print media should also to the online media. They should take the responsibility to promote a positive, healthy, beneficial social public culture. Thank you!
