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[h=2]PM Lee: Social media makes it ‘difficult’ for politics and government to work well[/h]Posted by temasektimes on April 28, 2012
One week after setting up his personal Facebook page to reach out to the online community, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is appearing to have second thoughts after his page was turned into a ‘slugfest’ between Singaporeans and foreigners of late.
In his latest post on Facebook, PM Lee shared an article published in CNN a few days ago on the ‘dangers’ of Facebook and Twitter politics:
“Social media bring many benefits. But this thoughtful piece points out that they will also make it harder for politics and government to work well. The writer talks about the US, but many of his points apply to Singapore too.”
As expected, his post sparked a rigorous debate among netizens which is getting more and more divisive:
“The worry is a vocal (sectarian) minority hijacking the national discourse and pushing it in a particular direction that might not represent majority voices or opinions. And of course, the fragmentation that such extensive micro-viewpoints entail.” – Alvin Tan
“DO NOT Agree, social media is about the people, govt is to serve the people, former politician based draft policy based on small group which does not benefit the rest, and this also give the impression govt works with it own agenda, by having social media govt should be grateful as they can now really know what its people want.. Unless the govt has its own agenda and their own benefit comes first!” – Darren Tay
“@Darren Tay Social media is not solely about the people. It’s skewed towards people who are savvy online (esp the youths), so we can’t make the logical leap that a “social media government” is best. Social media should be one of the many platforms that the gov uses to engage pple.” – Estelle Tan
One week after setting up his personal Facebook page to reach out to the online community, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is appearing to have second thoughts after his page was turned into a ‘slugfest’ between Singaporeans and foreigners of late.
In his latest post on Facebook, PM Lee shared an article published in CNN a few days ago on the ‘dangers’ of Facebook and Twitter politics:
“Social media bring many benefits. But this thoughtful piece points out that they will also make it harder for politics and government to work well. The writer talks about the US, but many of his points apply to Singapore too.”
[Source: PM Lee's Facebook]
The original CNN article talked about how social media has led to “a political discourse that is becoming devoid of real ideas, and instead pared down to the safest of talking points.”As expected, his post sparked a rigorous debate among netizens which is getting more and more divisive:
“The worry is a vocal (sectarian) minority hijacking the national discourse and pushing it in a particular direction that might not represent majority voices or opinions. And of course, the fragmentation that such extensive micro-viewpoints entail.” – Alvin Tan
“DO NOT Agree, social media is about the people, govt is to serve the people, former politician based draft policy based on small group which does not benefit the rest, and this also give the impression govt works with it own agenda, by having social media govt should be grateful as they can now really know what its people want.. Unless the govt has its own agenda and their own benefit comes first!” – Darren Tay
“@Darren Tay Social media is not solely about the people. It’s skewed towards people who are savvy online (esp the youths), so we can’t make the logical leap that a “social media government” is best. Social media should be one of the many platforms that the gov uses to engage pple.” – Estelle Tan
