Introduction

Social networks allow mass sharing of information and news items. However, we are increasingly observing that events are reported in a dehumanizing manner, that is to say in a crude manner, without taking into account human sensitivity. However, this has social and psychological consequences on which we must dwell.

I- Dehumanizing videos constantly shared.

The frantic race for buzz and the search for “likes” pushes many Internet users to relay news items on their walls. Also called “crunchy” facts, these can be images of traffic accidents, videos of indecent scandals (nude photos, erotic scenes in schools, etc.), natural disasters (earth slides, floods etc.), domestic scenes to name but a few. This tendency to film and publish already poses a problem: people who are filmed against their will find themselves exposed to the public in an embarrassing way overnight. Someone who has just been seriously injured following a traffic accident does not necessarily want to go live on a Facebook page; a couple in the middle of a marital argument does not necessarily want to find this scene a few hours later creating a buzz on the web. A family who has just lost a loved one does not want images of his/her remains to go arounds on pages and Facebook publications. The torchbearers blinded by the race for buzz do not take into account the feelings of those they film.

Online sharing of these scenes is not the only factor of dehumanization.

II- A dehumanizing way of sharing news stories

Indeed, many facts are related in a comical way, that is to say to amuse. For posters, this involves making video montages meant to make their followers laugh in order to be more popular. These videos are becoming more and more popular and are even enjoying some success. For example, videos where primary school students are mocked (even in the comments) because they cannot articulate well, or have not given a correct answer to a question they are asked. Or even videos of women who recount an event that traumatized them, but where the posters draw the attention of their followers on the language used and cause laughter by their way of telling the story. Not to mention the private lives that are exposed for even more likes.

Conclusion

The consequences of abusive and uncontrolled sharing of images and news items are numerous. Some people who have become objects of buzz in spite of themselves commit suicide because they can no longer stand the social pressure. Others are traumatized, have to abandon their studies, change cities to be forgotten, and are psychologically scarred for life. Before sharing or liking news items on social networks, everyone should remember the emotions, circumstances, and private lives of others.

Translated by: Abdourahamane Diallo