Social media platforms slammed for ‘ignoring users’ welfare’

Social media expert, Emma Sadleir, has criticised certain social media platforms for their lack of care towards users, especially in light of recent incidents involving sensitive images and videos being shared online.

Her comments come in response to calls for increased regulations and sanctions for individuals who post inappropriate content.

This discussion has gained urgency following a plea from the family of Olorato Mongale, a 30-year-old murder victim, urging South Africans to refrain from sharing an image that showed a young woman’s body dumped on a street of a residential area, which many claimed it was that of Olorato.

Not long after this, another video emerged on social media, capturing the gunning down of popular TikToker, Sqiniseko Mvelase, during a live broadcast on the app.

The 27-year-old Maskandi music reviewer from KwaMaphumulo, in KwaZulu-Natal, was killed last week by an unknown man.

Both of these incidents were shared on X (formerly Twitter).

Sadleir says the companies hosting such “totally unacceptable content” often evade accountability for the material posted on their platforms.

While some platforms might moderate the content people post, she ranks X the lowest in terms of effective moderation.

According to the social media law expert, while South Africa has the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI Act), which protects individuals’ dignity, reputation and equality, the legislation cannot be enforced against platforms based in other countries.