Suggestion for Managing Negative Comments on Social Media
Today's social media world is a muddled world - a nexus of good, false, hurtful, and noxious a toxic mix of all vices.
Even in some forums where people post to sell items, the comments often deviate from the main topic. Here's what a comment which was posted on a Facebook group where he had posted a land for sale
ഇത് മൊത്തം പൊട്ടന്മാരാണോ.... എടോ 5 cent സ്ഥലം... Cent ന് 11.5 lakhs... എനുവെച്ചാ 11.5 X 5
In one way, the above comments which roughtly translates to... Is everyone fools out here! Well, such comments are are not that bad compared to many outright negative, disrespectful ones. The sad part is that the people who leave the comments carry this same all around in the web-o-sphere.
While some comments are deleted, most often, such comments are not moderated and it remains on the online space for the world to see.It's like the vulgar graffiti people leave on public spaces and which remains for all to see. ( Recently saw one during a visit to Anjuthengu fort).
What's the way to Cull Negative Comments!
This note offers a small suggestion on how we can find some reprieve by labeling people who are consistently negative or ungracious in their replies. This issue is rampant on most social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Proposed Solution: Introducing a New Emoji
To address this issue, I propose a new emoji which can be left on comments which does not fit community standards - the emoji of a braying donkey.
Benefits of Introducing the Braying Donkey Emoji ( or any dic- k head image)
Highlight Negative Comments:
By reacting with a braying donkey emoji, negative comments are highlighted without being deleted, making it clear to others that the comment is unwelcome.
Social Signal:
If the Facebook algorithm can detect that a person has collected a significant number of such reactions from others, it marks the person is toxic.
Discourage Negative Behavior:
This kind of social signal might dissuade individuals from posting random negative comments on posts. They will think twice before posting.
Maintain Freedom of Expression:
People still have the freedom to post their comments, but the community has a way to collectively show disapproval.
Community Moderation:
Empowers users to participate in moderating content without relying solely on platform moderation.
Transparency:
Keeps the negative comments visible, providing context and transparency to discussions.
Psychological Impact:
Seeing a comment marked with a braying donkey emoji may make the person reconsider their behavior in the future.
Ease of Implementation:
Adding a new reaction emoji is a simple, yet effective way to address negative behavior.
User Engagement:
Encourages users to engage in a positive manner by reacting to negative comments appropriately.
Algorithm Improvement:
Helps social media platforms improve their algorithms for detecting and managing toxic behavior.
I plan to send this note to Facebook, hoping they might consider implementing a feature to mark individuals ( dic-k heads) known for posting unwanted comments or messages. This initiative could help create a more respectful and positive social media environment for everyone.
Side Note - What if Facebook makes few changes in its algorithm so that a person who collects specific number of negative comment feedback is barred for a certain period from commenting.
Here's something a private learning group or a community of people for a specific interest can do. They can create an emoji ( donkey or anything similar) so that the community members can use to mark people who post irrelevant or harmful comments. This will help the community to weed out people who are useful for the group or makes uncivil comments which is unwarranted.
Such filtering will help in making the group valuable and relevant.
What do you think of this? Will such marking make our social media space more safer, more polished and result in better
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