THE Supreme Information Technologist (SIT), Worthy Bro Albert Salia, has cautioned members of the Marshallan fraternity to be circumspect in the use of social media tools.
He explained that just as social media tools were handy in mobilizing people and also letting friends and relations stay in touch, there were risks in using the various social media tools.
He said the ethics of what “to publish and what not are of prime importance and we need to learn and understand them.”
W/Bro Salia gave the caution when he addressed a joint meeting of the Junior Order of 23J, Mother Most Pure, Mataheko and 75J, Queen of Patriachs, Pokuase, both in the Accra West Region.
He addressed them after the two Junior Councils and Courts had engaged in a debate on the use of social media tools by Catholic youth.
He mentioned some of the media tools as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, WhatsApp, Telegram, LinkedIn; Viber, Imo and Google+
Watch out
W/Bro Salia noted that there were user instructions or terms of usage of the social media tools for which many people sign up to without reading.
That, he said, exposed many people to great risks especially those who take pictures/videos to post or even storing them.
He said although one could later delete them from his or her phone or tablet those pictures, videos or audios were still stored in the clouds and the database of the platforms they had subscribed to.
W/Bro Salia also mentioned other disadvantages of social media tools such as the lack of personal touch or inability to connect in-person with our friends or relations; risks of fraud or identity theft and the lack of privacy.
He said the use of social media tools made it easy for people to speak and post anything and often left a permanent trail of what had been said or posted.
He, therefore, cautioned social media users never to post embarrassing or compromising information or photos online and also never to post their personal information online.
W/Bro Salia said it was to control the misuse of social media sites that the Supreme Council and Grand Court of the Noble Order of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall decided to ban the creation of social media accounts in the name of the Noble Order except those managed by the Supreme Council IT team.
He cited how a Facebook page created by a brother was hijacked and renamed as a Freemasons page with Marshallan pictures.
“That is why it is important we stay on one page – Knights and Ladies of Marshall – Official (facebook); Google+; twitter and YouTube pages,” he said.
That way, he said, the Noble Order would be able to garner the advantages of social media tools to the benefit of the society and also deal with any associated risks.
Advantages
W/Bro Salia said staying together on the same platforms would enable the Marshallan fraternity to share compelling and relevant content to grab the attention of potential members and increase the Marshallan brand visibility.
He said beyond enhancing the Marshallan worldwide connectivity, it would also strengthen the commonality of interest of the Noble Order – Unity, Charity, Fraternity and Service.
He said social media also helps in Real-Time Information Sharing; facilitates open communication, leading to enhanced information discovery and delivery as well as making sure the same information was shared and received by all.
W/Bro Salia said through Marshallans could also use the same platforms to network.