Stop the madness of the ‘like’ culture

Have any of your friends’ “likes” ever stunned you, or have any of your “likes” surprised your friends?

Some time ago, a friend of mine who is a supporter of the opposition questioned why I had “liked” Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s page on Facebook.  

A major part of my job requires me to conduct research, hence it is natural for me to “like” a variety of pages because that is the easiest and fastest way to obtain updated information or newsfeed.

For many, the Facebook “like” button is an indication of one’s preference. It has had so much impact on the human psyche.

The recent investigation of a Penang teenager under the Sedition Act 1948 for “liking” an “I love Israel” Facebook page has raised controversy, not only nationally but also internationally.

As reported by the AFP, “Anti-Semitism hits new low as Muslim state cracks down on ‘seditious’ teen who ‘liked’ a pro-Israel Facebook post”.

It is upsetting to see the teachers’ over-reaction. What really irritates me is that their reaction has left the poor boy shunned by some of his schoolmates and teachers.

Is it wrong to click the Facebook “like” button for “I love Israel”? By clicking the page, does it mean liking the idea that is expressed by the Facebook page?

Neil Strauss, a well-known writer who writes in The Wall Street Journal has rightly pointed out that there was “a commonly held idea in some parts of the world that people were entitled to their own points of view” before the introduction of social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

We are all entitled to form our opinions and views on issues that we are concerned about. Ironically, the introduction of these social media channels has altered this view.

As highlighted by Strauss in his article, the Internet was supposed to be a form of liberation but the “like” culture has unfortunately made it a prison of conformity.

Is there no room for dissent?

The probe into the teenager has set Malaysians in a wrong direction. It is as if we are not even allowed to have freedom in clicking the “like” button. For many, the Facebook “like” button means you are endorsing or favouring a web page’s content. But the meaning is broader than that.

We are, however, not alone.

A former deputy sheriff in Hampton, US was sacked for “liking” the Facebook page of a man running against his boss for city sheriff. After several disagreements between courts, the court finally decided that “liking” something on Facebook is a form of speech protected by the First Amendment.

To me, when a person “likes” a certain page, it does not necessary mean he or she “likes” what the page stands for. For example, I may “like” a page to show my support for a friend who has started a business, but that does not mean I like his or her products.

It is true that we need to be cautious in using social media channels, however, and it is also important to respect individual rights. We should not judge people simply through what we see on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Probing into the Facebook “like” button is dangerous. That is why it is time for us to stop the madness of the “like” culture. – August 18, 2014.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.