HAVE you ever witnessed something that incited a great amount of anger within you?
It may have been an incident that affected a family member or friend, or it may have happened to a stranger. Yet, when you saw what you believed to be an injustice taking place, you might have felt angry and upset on behalf of the person experiencing it. Human beings have learned to connect in beautiful ways. This connection means we are often inclined to help each other, even if it is a stranger in need of assistance.

Our younger generation, in particular, has a deep bond with other members of society due to new technological tools, such as social media. While this has been an amazing development, it has also introduced some downsides, as this bond through technology manifests differently than traditional human connections.

Today, we are capable of not just relating stories and incidents verbally but also allowing others to witness them firsthand through videos or photographs. This extraordinary capability gives us the chance to involve others in important discussions about society by sharing personal experiences. After all, a burden always becomes lighter when shared with others. However, this is where a rather strange problem comes into play: the problem of misplaced justice.

Justice is a highly complex concept. It is so complex, in fact, that people spend years studying it to be qualified enough to maintain it in society and to help others acquire it. Social media has gradually developed into a tool that allows even a random person to enforce this complex idea with their understanding of right and wrong.

Videos, images, and information posted on the internet can be edited or posted out of context to propagate a specific narrative. While false information and miscommunication are issues in themselves, they can also instigate entire crowds to engage in negative actions and discussions based on incorrect information.

Imagine witnessing an individual treating another cruelly in a public place. You might feel inclined to intervene and advise the person to desist. Depending on the severity of the situation, you may even call the police or get help to deal with it. This is where most people would stop involving themselves. Once it is clear that the victim is safe, we would continue with our day.

However, if this very situation were filmed and placed on social media, the boundary at which it is normal to stop intervening disappears. People cannot neutralise the situation through social media, so they instead begin to carry out what they believe is justice. This can range from leaving nasty comments to finding the individual’s personal details with the intent of harm. The person who posted the video no longer controls their potentially large audience and their actions. Imagine the plight of the alleged ‘attacker’ if the video were edited or faked. They would be experiencing punishment for a crime they did not commit.

Are ‘doxing’, cyber-bullying, and threats of violence really acceptable if directed towards someone who appears to have done wrong? If so, who decides what consequences another human being should face for an action they may not have even committed? Can the rules of justice be allowed to fade simply because the action is carried out on a virtual platform?

Technology empowers us in many ways. It gives us a voice and a new pair of eyes to view the world. However, like a giant unaware of its strength, we often tend to be careless about the impact we leave on the digital world. Every time we leave a comment or engage in the pursuit of justice on social media, we must ensure we have all the information required to do so. More importantly, we must consider whether it is necessary to act at all.