We need to talk about social media

As a society we must agree what is and is not acceptable online, and what to do about it

Snapchat has removed some content at the request of the TRA. (Patrick T. Fallon / Bloomberg)

Things move quickly in the world of social media. For that reason, it is difficult for users – and that's just about all of us – to keep up with the latest apps and what they do. For government regulators, who have to drill down into the technical and legal specifics of these apps, it is even harder. It is in this context that we should view the decision this week to block some Snapchat content after complaints were made to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. As The National reported, some users objected to material available through the app, and the TRA worked with Snapchat to remove it.

For now, there is some confusion over what material was deleted. But we must acknowledge that many regulators around the world do block some content. Moreover, even in the “liberal” West there are rules over what kind of books and magazines can be on open display, for example. Similarly, movies are edited or restricted to viewing by certain age groups. It is normal for there to be standards that meet community expectations – and those expectations will differ from place to place. The UAE is a conservative Muslim country, and what is acceptable elsewhere may not be appropriate here.

But, as we said, things move quickly. Snapchat has been around for only five years, but it is now one of the most popular platforms with young people. It is impossible to monitor all the content on Snapchat, let alone that on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other existing apps. And, without a doubt, there are other apps in development that will compete for our attention. Perhaps that next big thing is being developed here in the UAE, in a research laboratory or even in the garage of a suburban villa. When it emerges, so too will the same questions about its content. It is neither possible nor desirable – in terms of the effort and expense involved – for the regulator to monitor them all, nor to block them outright, because open access to information is essential to the way we will live and do business. The TRA can react to address specific complaints, but the genie is out of the bottle.

That is why we need to have a nuanced conversation – at government level and in homes and among communities – about social media, the way it is used and what we believe is acceptable content. The caveat is that as we strive to build a knowledge-based economy, we need to be just as careful about what we restrict as about what we indulge.