photo credit: nationalpost.com
photo credit: dimbulb.typepad.com
If your government cracks down on your social media use and threatens to send you to jail for using it to voice your take on the conflict, will you stop?
And if you are an Organizational Communication manager in a company, will you:
- Encourage your employees to use social media to report real stories about the conflict?
- Prohibit employees from sending out stories during office hours?
- Not do or say anything?
Let’s hear it from OrCom’s Silver Batch. 
Tags: government control, Iran, New Social Media, OrCom, Organizational Communication, UP Manila
July 2, 2009 at 9:47 pm
I believe that the “truth will set us free”..so go and encourage my employees to use social media to report real stories about the conflict. I see it as a way of helping those who are in need, maybe not directly but in a way that people will know what is really happening and maybe people especially authorities will take action on the matter.
July 2, 2009 at 11:43 pm
As far as I know, our constitution states that every citizen has the right to freedom of expression. Given that putting me to jail is a violation to my right, I won’t let their threatening stop me.
One of the most gratifying uses of New Social Media is that it empowers people to be an active part of the communication process. I might as well take the privilege that this communication tool gives me to exercise my right and talk about socially relevant issues. But of course, as much as I want to exercise my right, and as much as the internet gives me the liberty to express my opinions, I must also keep in mind that I am responsible to the information I will share.
July 3, 2009 at 12:05 am
Encourage to use social media to report real stories about the conflict. I think, even if you don’t actually encourage them, they’ll still resort to social media. Haha
In Iran, I think what happened was that reporters, foreign or local, were prohibited that even the Basiij forces were used by the government. And so, people resorted to cyberspace. There was even a video about Neda, a young woman who was hit while joining the protest with his father.
You can’t actually impose on people as regards their use of social media, in this case–the Internet. As what we’ve read already in IA, it cannot be manipulated and no hierarchy exists.
July 3, 2009 at 1:07 am
Freedom of expression has been an undying issue. If I would be a manager, I will let my employees use the social media so long as their task/job in the organization do not suffer. My employees’ usage of social media and contribution to the national issue only show that I have an aware, responsible, ad active group of subordinates.
If the government will intervene with the communication going on in the internet and is serious with sending people to jail (so like the Martial Law), I am afraid to be honest, but I cannot put my (and my family’s) safety at stake. Maybe I could send a letter to a friend who lives in another country and have him/her post my entry online. I am confident that I can come up with another way to voice out my opinion but I am certain that I can only do that when I am not in jail.
July 3, 2009 at 3:07 am
[...] http://commcapsule.wordpress.com/2009/07/02/mirroring-iran/#comments [...]
July 3, 2009 at 9:30 am
i think the use of social media as a way of expressing one’s opinion is something that’s inevitable…since the social media provides an avenue for us to really speak up. what we should do is not to take advantage of this freedom. instead, we should always keep in mind the responsibilities that come with its use.
and so, i won’t discourage my employees in using the social media in reporting real stories for i know that it can be their only way to participate in the issues that are currently going on.
July 3, 2009 at 10:08 am
i’d go for the 1st option. it’s martial law all over again–in a different way, at a different place. but it doesn’t change the fact that people’s rights are being stepped on. so i’d go and encourage my employees to use social media to voice out the truth. i’d also do it, for the love of all that’s true.
July 3, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I was in a computer shop when I accessed your new post. My friends also saw the video and they’re really devastated. They were even asking… “Is that for real?” From that moment, I realized that not all people are aware on what’s going around in our society…
If these individuals are not educated on the real scenario around us, what more will these busy professionals know?
I’ll choose to encourage employees to use social media to report real stories about the conflict. Freedom is one of the best thing that we have in life. We should wisely exercise this right. The new social media is a good avenue to take part in discussing socially relevant issues. It will provide everyone the privilege to actively participate in informing and criticizing issues that influence us. But we should be very sensitive on the informations that we will disseminate.
July 3, 2009 at 6:25 pm
If I were there, I’d let them give out reports to the outside world and participate in the global demonstration against the election results and the social media banning.
Although the Iranian government claims that it can track down people using these sites, I know, and many techy geeky Iranians know, that there are plenty of ways to get information out of the country without using the social media sites directly. That’s how that view up there got into world domain.
I wouldn’t be afraid of getting caught. I’d even encourage people to use what I know.
July 3, 2009 at 8:22 pm
let me first say that, the video was quite disturbing.
People in Iran should exercise their right to freedom of expression, and new social media is the most discreet way of doing so. You know, I am not actually convinced that the government can totally crack down social media. It’s power–new social media–should never be underestimated.
If i were a manager of a company, I would definitely encourage my employees to speak the truth, given that.. they are done with their tasks. haha!
http://thedelinquentkid.wordpress.com/
July 3, 2009 at 9:35 pm
I will not stop.
I only stop doing things when there is a convincing reason to stop.
If I’m an OrCom Manager of a company…
I would encourage my employees to use social media to report real stories about the conflict, BUT I will prohibit them from sending out stories during office hours.
My reason is simple: we are free to express things so long as they are within the confines of human freedom, but we must always learn that there is an appointed time to do things, so there is a time to work and a time to post
July 3, 2009 at 9:36 pm
as a manager of a company, i believe that it is also my responsibility to instill to my employees’ mind a sense of accountability and responsibility to one’s country. and part of that responsibility is to be aware and vigilant of the current happenings.
the social media, i believe, is a good avenue for letting their voices out regarding a certain issue. im not gonna stop them if they want to comment or send out reports, it’s their right. as long as they will be responsible for their actions and would not abandon their duties in the office. ;b
at least, i know my employees are not just playing online games or chatting during work. they’re actually doing something good.
July 4, 2009 at 12:56 am
I can’t take the video.
I will not stop. As others have pointed out, that is what we call Freedom of Expression. As long as I’m not doing anything that’s illegal, they can’t just put me to jail and say this and that.
I would go for the first. New Social Media will help us deliver real stories on the fastest possible time to the biggest possible audience. A win situation, right?
July 4, 2009 at 7:24 am
I go for social mobilization…thus encouraging my employees to use social media in spreading what’s current and up-to-date will be a major plus. I strongly oppose the people who’d do things to stop people from going public with their thoughts, especially when it’s of prime importance to their well-being (as in this case, their votes)
July 5, 2009 at 8:29 pm
I think that the whole point of the new social media is to bridge the communication gap across the world, and limiting the use of social media in general, would mean limiting communication. I’d rather go to jail for doing what I think is right, rather than be a free man stripped of his rights as a human being.
July 5, 2009 at 9:02 pm
I’d go for encouraging my employees to voice out their opinions and to report real stories about the conflict. Being able to report what we know will help those who are in need of the information and in return, we might also learn from others in the same way. Reporting these kinds of conflicts will help educate people and might also help the authorities in resolving these kinds of conflict.
I guess Social Media arose because of the people’s need to voice out what they know, and to get the information they need in return—faster and accessibly. Communication is a very vital part of us human beings. Take away the right to communicate what we know and seek for the information we need would i guess, mean taking away the very essence of our existence.
July 5, 2009 at 11:57 pm
to be honest, i’d rather that my employees do work related things during work hours rather than for them to spend their time rebelling against the government.
now, i’m not against fighting injustices agains the world, but i for one am an advocate of doing the right thing at the right time. and if your work does not entail fighting injustices, you better shut up when you’re working.
the best way to deal with this, is mobilize a sort of “extra-curricular” activity so to speak. start a pirate radio station and broadcast at midnight, start a weekly underground newsletter, use the blogosphere and your connections to protest, post vlogs and wear masks so as to protect your identities.
like what was said, the government is cracking down on the use of social media, why take a risk to the organization and to yourself by doing those things at work? do it after work, so no one’s the wiser. just like what the katipuneros did during the himagsikan. MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!
July 6, 2009 at 12:39 am
New social media is unstoppable so I wont tire myself trying to ban my employees from expressing their thoughts about the conflict in our country. It would be unfair to stop them from doing the thing that might help the country be free, for example. We’ll never know the possibilities until we try them.
I would surely go for option number 1!
I would be brave to encourage them to do what they think is right. They can be activist if they want as long as they be responsible people for all the generated things that they freely express through the New Social Media.
July 6, 2009 at 2:08 am
No, I won’t stop. It’s my right to voice out what’s the truth and it’s also the people’s right to know the truth. I won’t stop for there is no law stating that expressing through social media is prohibited. They know the law and it’s a disgrace if they’re the first one who violates it.
Well, if I’m a manager.. Definitely, I won’t stop my employees to engage in social media for proliferating stories about the conflict. If I don’t want my right to be stepped on then who am I to stop their right–I believe in Confucius’ saying, “Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you”. Letting them to use the social media would enlighten other people about the conflict. Moreover, through the help of it the officials in the company might come up with an idea on how to deal the conflict better based on their employees’ perspective.
July 7, 2009 at 11:10 am
I don’t think I will stop from using new social media tools despite threats from the government because I know that I’m not the only one doing it. I don’t think the government can do that because if they do, there are just too many people to arrest and put to jail. This might just ignite more tension and unrest against them.
As for being an OrCom manager, I believe that whether or not I permit my employees from voicing their concerns against what is happening, they will still do whatever they want. People’s use of these new social media tools is just inevitable and uncontrollable.
July 7, 2009 at 6:58 pm
The world needs to know. The world needs to see, hear, listen. Everyone is a mirror to the world…
Being an ORCOMmunicologist, I need to let my employees voice out their complaints, stories. The company hired them because of what these employees are and what these employees can be. There’s no need to stop their social media participation. After all, the content of their stories matters most.
July 7, 2009 at 7:34 pm
1. I’d prolly tweet or blog about whatever injustice is happening in the country, regardless of the consequences. Using pseudonyms in the net is too easy, how exactly can the Philippines stop civil-liberty-loving kids like me (but yes, I shall engage the scenario that RP suddenly has the capacity to crack down on social media users)? :O
But if my mommy and daddy will disapprove of such audacity, I will meekly stop. Hoho. :> (I can be a freedom fighter without using social media, anyway–examples of which escape me right now.)
2. I will tolerate employees who use social media to inform the world about the scary happenings in the country–at least after my HR Group educates my employees on safe Internet-rebel practices. Yay.
Whoops, I answered with the assumption that I’m a super manager with control of the HR group! :O
July 11, 2009 at 1:49 am
Blogs and new social media tools are the new frontier of liberalism. Let it flo-ow.
July 11, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Everyone seems to care but not everyone actually makes a stand–or at least takes a side. Their excuse, more often than not, is that “there is no way to voice out their concerns.” And bringing it out on the streets is too radical for their taste. But with the advent of new social media, we have no excuse other than fear and apathy.
As an OrCom practitioner (or manager at that, yey!), I say taking a side is the way to go. The government can crack down the idealists but not the ideals.
It’s the internet. You can be anyone and be anything. Why stop people from being heroes in their own right? That still counts as productivity in my book.
July 11, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Honestly, I wouldnt mind or like try to affect my employees’ stand on whatever social issue it is theyd want to go blog or twitter about, as long as they do their jobs in the office.
But of course, being an Organizational Communication manager, I will assure the company I represent that every employee in the company knows about these issues. I will try to encourage them to take a stand and voice out that stand to the world in whatever medium they want to use. If they want to use the social media to tell the world about real stories and their stands on these, I would be more than happy to support them… as long as they do not use the office computer. HAHA:))
July 12, 2009 at 10:03 am
Honestly, I wouldn’t want them to blog en masse about what they think about Iran’s issues. What’s happening in Iran may be bad, but we here, in the Philippines, is also experiencing a situation that may not be equally bad, but certainly calls for action.
We are well on our way to Con-Ass and what does traditional media feed us? Interviews of people who turn out to be ignorant about the concept of Con-Ass after being asked by reporters in an interview. I saw this in television more than once–and I’m not even a tv person. This, to me, gives the idea that media is trying to portray us Filipinos as ignorant and pliant.
To influence my employees to mobilize against injustices abroad–and not mind our own–is for me, hypocrisy.
I also remember a report about Iran once: Internet there is so much screened, that I don’t think blogs from a group of Filipinos halfway around the world (okay, not halfway) will do a difference. As for the Internet in the Philippines, it’s very much penetrating.
I’m not saying it’s an either-or situation; I’m saying that my employees are Filipinos first, before they are anything else.
July 12, 2009 at 12:03 pm
That said about Iran, I will definitely tolerate my employees to speak out concerning issues regarding their country.
As I said, they are Filipinos before they are my employees.
July 12, 2009 at 12:56 pm
super disturbing video.
rather than that (at the video) happening to me or my employees, i rather distribute valuable info over the net. as what we read at internet apocalypso, there are many ways to put info over new social media without anyone discovering your identity. it’s like being propagandist before like rizal or del pilar but being a lot cleaner since there are a lot of ways to post info stealthily.
video really gave me the creeps, i’m just being realistic
July 12, 2009 at 10:28 pm
I’m commenting on the assumption that the conflict is something about the Philippines. So…
If that happens to me, I will most probably stop. Yes, I am not prepared to go to jail because of that. I admit I will play safe at this point by using only those means which cannot totally incriminate me. And how can I continue to standpoint against the issue when I am in jail already? There must be some other way, although right now I have no idea yet.
When I am an OrCom manager in a company, I will just let my employees do what they want. After all, that is their personal decision. They are not speaking in behalf of the company anyway.
A side comment though, why are their tweets in correct English? Aren’t they supposed to speak in Arabic, or Iran is becoming an English-speaking country, too?
July 22, 2009 at 8:33 pm
I still would not stop voicing out my take on the conflict. The government can only do so much in trying to control the use of new social media (NSM), and their act of restraining the public’s use of NSM means that there still are more things “under the surface.” (If the government threatens to send me to jail for using new social media to voice out my opinions on the conflict, I probably would stop using my current accounts and create new ones. But I would definitely not stop.)
As an OrCom manager, I would encourage the use of NSM among my coworkers, even during office hours, but closely monitor everything that happens online. Arguments or comments are still best discussed personally or at least thru the phone, and using the Internet to voice out every problem (i.e. the conflict) just won’t solve it. NSM is a good way for employees to release stress and tension, and also develop interactional skills along the way, so I guess promoting it won’t hurt.
Finally, I think that above everything else, moderation is key. The government (or your company) would definitely try hunting you down if your posts are too revealing, disrespectful, or just plain false.