Dear Editor,

There is a video circulating online showing social media persona Rohan “Quite” Perry along with two social media allies, Tanaania Tracey and Keticia “TC” Chatman, rating carnival costumes. The focus was on reviewing women’s costumes, highlighting the good and bad. But it was the laughter which incited ridicule, as the person wearing the costume received critique for her choices.

The video received a lot of backlash, as some found it distasteful and a form of bullying, something which Perry himself has spoken about in interviews, based on personal experiences. Interestingly, the panel did not judge men’s costumes, neither did they judge their own, which I suppose was perfect.

In the era of social media it has become very easy for innocent people, minding their own business, to be targeted online and bullied for ‘likes’. The impact is made worse when its done by people with a large following who ought to know better and understand the ripple effects of social media and how words can hurt.

Everyone can have an opinion about anything or anyone. If you don’t like a look or the taste or style of someone who has no impact on your life, it becomes personal and you can either keep it to yourself, laugh privately, or share within a close circle. When you use social media to target someone specifically and publicly judge them, it is being taken to another level.

All three individuals have since apologised. The original video was deleted, but not before it was shared multiple times. Some felt the matter was blown out of proportion and the panel had nothing for which to apologise. The panel obviously felt an apology was necessary, perhaps concerned about sponsorships, work, and the effect on their brands.

When I saw the clip, a few words came to mind, one of which was ‘juvenile’. The laughter made it worse. The woman who was criticised the most in the clip was mature and confident enough to accept the apologies and move on. Her following is rising.

In another incident, junior state minister Alando Terrelonge made a controversial post on his personal Instagram page, commenting on the positive achievements of “our government”. The photo showed the minister in dialogue with a gentleman, both seated, and on the wall were photos of former Jamaican prime ministers.

The photos of two prime ministers, Portia Simpson Miller and PJ Patterson, from the other party were covered with emojis of the Jamaican flag, while photos of Prime Minister Andrew Holness and former Prime Minister Bruce Golding remained in full view.

This, in my opinion, was partisan, immature, and disrespectful, which was made worse, considering that Terrelonge works in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Terrelonge has since apologised and deleted the post, blaming the incident on a member of “his team”.

Shifting blame has become the new order of the day instead of owning the issue and learning from it. Of course, the post, which has been deleted, is already out there and quickly making the rounds online.

In the digital world, in which everything is instant, most times an apology alone won’t cut it, the effects can be far-reaching and global within seconds. Even if the post is deleted, you can bet the digital footprint will remain. We must, therefore, think before we type and share anything online. We must think, before we click ‘send’. Not everything is funny, in good taste, or worth sharing publicly.

I am sometimes amazed how some people share so much of their personal lives online, including their small children, who may someday wonder why they are all over social media and how they can remove these images. It is done mostly for ‘likes’ and in some instances for profit. Sometimes we should pause and learn to absorb and enjoy our private moments with those closest to us; not everything is meant to be shared with the public.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com