Social media will continue to grow in Sri Lanka: Poll

Tuesday, 17 June 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

TNS Lanka’s latest nationwide poll for leading business magazine LMD reveals that “an overwhelming majority (98%) of the people believe that social media will continue to grow into the future”.

However, the magazine notes that “they seem less convinced about the true merits of social media, with only 35% of respondents stating that the positives outweigh the negatives”. The people are particularly vocal about there being far too much hate speech on social media platforms – over 80% of respondents hold this view, claiming that such viral vitriol has led to deaths, murders and suicides, a spokesperson for LMD says. “There is a feeling too that that websites should be limited to individual users… meaning, people who will use social media correctly and with right level of awareness,” she remarks. Among the other concerns raised during the exclusive poll is whether social media is leading to anti-social behaviour – and LMD reports that nearly two-thirds of the sample ‘agree’ with this premise, while nearly 20% are ‘unsure’ and another 16% ‘disagree’. “A notable proportion (71%) also favours the implementation of measures to control social media, with some even calling on the Government to intervene,” it adds. LMD’s June edition features Sri Lanka’s ‘Great Workplaces,’ including profiles of the companies that made the 2014 list, which is compiled by Great Place to Work Sri Lanka (the magazine’s cover story is now on LMD’s website – www.LMD.lk).