Skip to main content

Malaysian Social Media Licensing Rumpus

 Well, I had been complaining about the blatant scamming going on in Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram... even Google... and saying why doesn't the government do something?

Well, it did. And oh what a rumpus it's causing now. But well, the platforms should have done something about the scammers going wild in their spaces. I have personal experience dealing with scammers in multiple Facebook groups and literally reduced to locking up the groups and scrutinising each member. The insane thing is some scammers got in by hacking members' personal accounts. Not only do group admins have to guard the door, they have to check over their people already inside. Multiple times over. 

The worst is the platform didn't care when I made multiple reports of scammers. I got a cookie cutter reply about how they didn't find anything violating their community standards. They did restrict me for making posts warning about scams. Hence my mixed response of relief and dismay. 



So let's see how this plays out. 

My personal opinion can be encapsulated in something a friend of mine said. "These social media platforms have abrogated their responsibilities in the name of our personal freedoms."  To look at it another way, a community space opened its doors to people and let them do whatever they want, even if it harms others because they believe that people can make choices for themselves or take a step back on their own. Admins are expected to manage their own groups but with minimal tools. (IMO banning is not an really desired tool and it does not stop the roaches.) It's basically a Wild Wild West out there... and people are scrambling to defend their boundaries and they aren't always successful. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Royal Commonwealth Essay Competition 2009

Another great opportunity for our young people to show what they can do! The Royal Commonwealth Essay Competition has four different age bands, 'Classes'. Each Class offers five topics, plus the Commonwealth Question and the Charlton Athletic Community Trust Question. As we hope to reach a diverse student body across the Commonwealth, there are options for both academic and creative minds.  The Competition deadline is 1st March 2009   CLASS A - Born 1990-1992  1400-1750 words  All questions can be answered by writing an essay or a story which explores the topic in an interesting and relevant way.   Can I help you?  Bullying is an issue which concerns young people throughout the Commonwealth. Why does it matter and what can be done about it?   It is 200 years since Charles Darwin was born and 150 years since the publication of "On the origin of Species". In your view, what evolutionary developments are needed to ensure the continuing
24 comments
Read more

How Challenging Teaching In Sabah Can Be

As a teacher, I have had many memorable experiences but one of the most fascinating has got to be observing my colleagues from other states as they deal with their first days in Sabah. Born and bred in Sabah, I never really had much reason or opportunity to question what sort of image Sabah presented to the outside world (which includes other states in Malaysia) until I went to university in Kuala Lumpur.  And, of course, when I began working as a teacher. My first inkling of how 'scary' Sabah can be to outsiders came during my third year in university.  I had coursemates who quickly got married ... it was the first time I had ever heard of 'nikah gantung'.  Apparently, they could get married but it was a sort of 'marriage on hold' (if such a thing exists..).  What mattered was that they could get a marriage certificate that would help 'save' them from the jungles of Sabah and Sarawak.  Then, during the briefing I attended to receive my first posti
7 comments
Read more

I've Survived the PTK3 DG44 Course!

I've just returned from my PTK3 DG44 course and my first priority was sleep. But now I'm okay and ready to share info. First off, whoever tells you you don't need to memorize info for the PTK3 level of exam either has never sat for the exam or has photographic memory. I had to memorize the Twelve Pillars (Tonggak12), 16 moral values (nilai2 murni), civil servant ethics code, education ministry ethics code, steps in TQM, and ALL the govt vision aims objectives policies ... (hint: acronyms help). I only wish I'd done this BEFORE I went for the exam course. Second, the key word for this course is APPLICATION. They don't want to hear about the latest discoveries, theories or how long your bibliography pages are. They want to know how you translate govt policy into a plan of action. Third, don't take the assignment (15-25 pages) lightly. First thing to do is understand the question. Next is prepare an answer that fulfils all requirements. I'd advise you t
9 comments
Read more