Justin Smith: Social media a tool that can save or destroy us

The real effect on society of posting, scrolling, tweeting and sharing on social media may not be fully known for decades, but how we use is it what counts.

While this experimental thing called “social media” continues to evolve, it feels like we’re yet to decide whether it’s been a good or bad thing for humans.

It’s certainly helped us become more connected and entertained, but it’s also linked us in with a cluster of people who have never really been worth listening to.

You know the types – if they’d been alive before computers, even people around the same fire would have ignored them.

Yet, thanks to all the outlets and platforms, they’re able to discharge one dopey thought after another on users who just want to chew away some time between reality by watching kittens and puppies playing.

So it will probably be another couple of decades before we know the full effect of social media.

But, in the past couple of weeks, we’ve seen both sides of the experiment.

This week, three stupid giggling teenagers (allegedly) pushed a 79-year-old man from a pier on the Mornington Peninsula.

It seems we’re yet to decide if social media is a good or bad thing for humans.

And it seems to have been done in the name of going viral, because they posted a video of the night-time attack on Instagram.

No doubt hoping to get a few “likes” for their crime.

It was a particularly awful offence because they encouraged each other to do it, and then ran off as the old man fell to the water.

If it hadn’t been for nearby locals, the victim could have easily drowned.

Perhaps this trio needed no other motivation than being a pack of selfish little tossers, but it looks like fame on social media was a big part of the plan.

A 14-year-old boy has now been charged over the attack and we’ll have to leave it to the courts to decide on guilt and punishment.

Although let’s not forget that we live in Victoria, where our wonky justice system allows convicted pedophiles and violent Nazis to walk free from court with disturbing regularity. So the chances of a Victorian judge locking up some teenagers is pretty low.

But, while social media almost drowned an old man, it also may have saved a young woman from drowning in her own pain.

With all our talk about the importance of mental health, why does a professional employee of a major hospital feel her only avenue for help was through a tweet?

A couple of weeks ago, a young doctor from Melbourne posted a tweet saying that she wanted to kill herself. She wrote about how she was suffering discrimination and abuse at hospital where she was working, and could no longer take it.

“They have pushed me to the point where I now plan to take my own life,” she said.

I won’t print her name, or the name of the hospital, because it wouldn’t be helpful – but from this shocking social media post came something very beautiful.

There was an outpouring of kindness, and message after message of support from people trying to reach the young woman. And it now looks like she’s getting the help she needs.

It seems to be a good result but her desperate appeal asks a critical question: With all our talk about the importance of mental health, why does a professional employee of a major hospital feel her only avenue for help was through a tweet?

Sadly, many of the mental health systems in our workplaces feel more like lip-service and HR twaddle rather anything that will actually assist people. It certainly shouldn’t be left to social media to save the day.

We can also be guilty of thinking people like doctors have enough money and prestige to get them through depression and anxiety. This of course is wrong. And it’s always been wrong.

Comedian Jim Carrey once wished that all people could be rich and famous, and have all their dreams come true, just so they could see how little it really helps.

But on this occasion, it was win for social media. And hopefully the young doctor feels better soon.

So maybe we’ll never really know the full effect of all this posting, sharing, influencing, tweeting, scrolling and Snapchatting. Perhaps it’s just like every other tool we have – it’s how we use it that counts.

But, if you’re struggling, know that the ones who love you don’t want you to leave.

And please, ask for help.

There are good people who have dedicated themselves to guiding us out of the dark. Start with Lifeline on 13 11 14. And if you’re a 14-year-old boy with nothing to do on a Monday night, please don’t push people into the water.