It turns out that the digital world is just as dangerous as the real world – perhaps even more so since it can be a tool to dehumanize people. On this episode, Joyce Pring and Coach Lyqa Maravilla dug deep into how the social media has changed over the years, and the ways to have a better and healthier conversations virtually.

“The internet once felt like a place where you can meet new people. How did we transform from this Tumblr, YM, Friendster, Mxultiply Community of people – who were outcasts and needed each other to thrive to this modern trends of conversations were everyone else is clashing with one another…”

How Does the Internet Impacts Us?

People always find a way to build community around them. We want acceptance and the respect from the community we belong into. If we say that we love community, that everyone is welcome but the moment that someone reveals a personality that you don’t like, you start hating them – saan sila pupunta? They have nowhere else to go.

People who are not comfortable with being alone. When this people felt loneliness. The internet has become a less welcoming place than it was before. It was once a place for private people who had to remain anonymous for safety reasons but you flourish because you show yourself with no shame. But the sad part of using handles are twisted in to a mask the people can use to do anything they want on the internet.

People are misinformed. I try to engage as much as possible, “I don’t argue to change their minds but to showcase how it is to argue, disagree and be decent about it, be human about it, be kind about it – and hopefully, some kids listen” – Coach Lyqa. It takes a lot to believe that people are still capable of listening but that is a way to keep the humanity on the social media.

How to Handle Yourself Online

○ Everytime you’re gonna interact to someone, always remember that ***you are talking to another human being*** somewhere else. You are having that conversation **THROUGH** that phone, not **WITH** that phone. (JP)
○ Try to think of the person you are interacting with as someone ***very old*** who is having a hard time to analyze everything or someone ***very young*** who doesn’t even know how the world goes – looking at them like that, it can help you **HUMANIZE** them no matter how bad they throw you the words online.
○ *“Who died and made you the righteous hand of God?”* – Coach Lyqa. Sometimes we overbeat people because we feel that we’re doing it with good intentions – justice, government and either way. But ask yourself, **“why does it have to be me?”.** If it makes you feel good, ask again – ***why?***

“Look at the idea that you’re standing on and see how far it goes. And to the farthest of its capability, do you still believe in it? If no, you might have to start setting your boundaries.”

— Joyce Pring

**Social Media Mistakes We Overlook**

○ If it still falls down according to your own will, rights and preferences, is that even free speech? No. When somebody tells you something you completely disagree with, ***that’s still considered as free speech***. (JP)
○ When put all our ideas and worldviews into one canister and take it as ***“This is all I believe in***.” But in reality, when you believe in something it **expounds**, it **grows.** So you have to be careful about the things that you believe in and how far you take that. **You have to be responsible for the way that you carry out these ideas and these truths.** (JP)

How Can We Get Better At These?

You know if you are fighting for what you believe in if you can answer these:

1. If you are getting angry about something someone did, if someone you dearly loved did the same thing, would you feel the same way?

2. If you are defending someone for something that they did and you worst enemy does the same thing, would you still defend their action?

If you are still speaking out after that then you know that you are talking about the behavior not the person. It’s only you and God who knows the real situation of your heart. You can call people out without hating them. You can pray something that they did right even if you don’t love them.