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Technological advances in the field of communication can make it difficult to anchor one’s sense of self. 

We live in a world where one person now has the means and ways of being louder than an entire country. Through social media, the ability to garner attention has never been easier for the everyday man. As long as he understands how to emotively connect with an audience through the accurate use of media and communication tools, he no longer requires the traditional standards of measure through meritocracy or any other system put in place to verify his credibility in being a trusted source. Any person with the right timing and set of words, can be a leader of opinion and activate a large audience, especially if that person has the ability to prey on fear and ignorance. The implications of this will have a significant effect on the stability of socio politics and the economy.

 

In a society like Singapore’s, the threat is even more pressing. Currently, our general dependence on the government for basic needs like shelter and security have kept our society stable but multiculturalism, a lack of time and an inert citizenry make the development of an intrinsic identity more difficult. Without the solidification of a concrete identity that survives within the people regardless of government, the combination of our delicate fabric thrown into the mix with the volatility of an open stage like social media, leaves even more room for things to very quickly fall apart.

 

We must find a balance that allows some greater measure of checks on one hand, and more education on the other. We must make use of the same tools available with media and communication to educate our young. Contemporary issues should be introduced at an earlier age so they become more invested in their environment, immediate and distant. Growing up with a more relative sense of who they are will also help define their identities.

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