OPINION: Use social media for good, not evil

FORCE FOR GOOD: Facebook can do great good in the right hands.

I trust everyone enjoyed our front page story this week -- where the Carterton community rallied around a struggling family and showered an adorable five-year-old with birthday gifts.

Little Aliyah's mum found herself in a tough position, financially, and was unable to afford any birthday presents.

But, after seeing a post in a community Facebook page, Cartertonians headed to Aliyah's home in droves, bearing armloads of gifts, food and party decorations.

The photos of gorgeous Aliyah, beaming from ear to ear as she prepares to demolish her pink and white cupcakes, could melt even the hardest of hearts.

Aliyah's story is a timely example of the power of social media -- if used wisely.

At the same time people were sending messages of support to Aliyah and family, Facebook was set alight with the wider New Zealand public admonishing sports presenter Tony Veitch for his glib attitude to his domestic violence convictions.

Those who spoke out against Veitch on his Facebook page, Veitchy on Sport, were not well regarded by his bevy of fans -- with some women receiving threats of physical and sexual violence in private messages from Veitch supporters.

There have been many other instances of social media sites being used as platforms for bullying, intimidation and abuse. Such as female gamers in the US having their accounts hacked and personal information broadcast online by male competitors. Twitter "trolls" driving well-known TV personalities to suicide. Activists and writers having their social media identity stolen by white supremacists. Body positivity activists hounded on online forums, and later stalked in person. Rape threats to New Zealand newspaper columnists for their critique of attitudes in farming.

Not to mention the shameful instances of teenage cyberbullying and its deadly consequences.

As one of my colleagues put it, it's the modern equivalent of putting someone in the stocks, or "stringing someone up" in the town square.

But, these days, the lynch mobs move faster, and in greater numbers. Because the internet is instant -- press a button, and an entire reputation is besmirched. It's disheartening.

But Aliyah's story has proven something as widespread and immediate as social media can, in the right hands, be used for great good.

In the same breath that it can tear others down, it can help rebuild a home, raise money for a Cuddle Cot and stem-cell treatment, rehome a mistreated animal, or deliver a birthday cake.

It's all too easy these days to criticise and fly into an unbridled rage behind the safety of a computer screen. But if we spend less time pouring scorn on others' Twitter accounts and more time using our profiles to help those in need, then we'd have more stories like Aliyah's on our Facebook walls.

And that can only be a good thing.