Social networking has become one of the most effective tools in today’s society. Naturally, this power may be abused of, and may be used to spread slander and prejudices.

There should be room for distinction between humour and direct insults, and people should only be punished if they suggest harming someone.

Logically, after consenting to the terms and conditions of online networks when signing up, people should have understood beforehand that they are signing up to be watched by ‘Big Brother’.

Nevertheless, I believe people should still have freedom of speech in blogs or other forms of media, unless they are directly insulting or slandering another person.

I believe in Voltaire’s quote: “I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Rach Tedesco Triccas, BA Anthropology, 1st year.

Nowadays, social networking is an extremely useful tool in many areas. Especially in politics, as we have seen in the ‘Arab Spring’, those voices that usually don’t matter and those who are being ignored can be expressed and heard.

However, those who use social media as a means to verbally abuse and threaten should be prosecuted. Therefore, legislation should be enacted. Malicious users should be traced and taken to court for making other people’s lives difficult for no reason. Karina Urevna Didyk, BA International Relations and Psychology, 1st year.

Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter are beneficial to society if used in the proper way. Having connections is an asset nowadays, and using them is smart.

Yet there is a big difference between freedom of speech and candid disrespect, and it should be clear and enforced, even online.

When agreeing to the ‘General terms’ and ‘Privacy policy’ one is accepting to have all his actions on online social networking traced, and thus everyone must be responsible and careful what to say. Omar Shamala, Mechanical Engineering, 3rd year.

Compiled by Noelene Scerri.