Developer Kaki organises regular networking sessions, talks and sessions with industry members. — DAREN TAN
In an era where digital communication has become dominant, it’s fascinating to observe how social media has transformed the way we connect and learn from each other.
Countless communities now dot the online world, centred around a whole plethora of topics on everything from stationery to do-it-yourself projects.
Take, for instance, Bert Tan, founder of the Malaysian Heritage and History Club (MHHC), on the social network Facebook.
Bert explains that his motivation behind creating the group was wanting “to learn about our rich cultural history and heritage as part of a quest to know more and share what we know, and vice versa”.
“In this way, members get to know more about the nation’s history, culture and heritage,” Bert says.
Tan believes that arguments can serve as a learning opportunity for members in an online community. — Bert Tan
He adds that none of this would have been possible without the invention of social media and access to the Internet that is affordable.
Bert thinks that members join the group due to their interest in Malaysian culture, heritage and history, to make a stand on their beliefs on the topic, and out of a genuine wish to share their knowledge.
The MHHC, which was founded in 2012 and has over fifty thousand members, also organises regular live talks in which its more senior and knowledgeable members discuss their areas of expertise.
Facebook is also home to the Developer Kaki group, described as a “community dedicated to fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration within the technology development space” by its creator, Daren Tan.
“It provides a platform for technology enthusiasts, professionals, and aspiring developers to engage in insightful conversations, seek career opportunities, and exchange valuable insights and experiences.
Daren says that the Developer Kaki group gives people the opportunity to connect with industry peers much further along in their careers. — DAREN TAN
“At first, I created the group because the articles I was sharing in my personal network were not relatable or interesting to 80% of my friends.
“As people started finding value in the content and sharing it with their own networks, the group gradually began to grow organically,” he says.
The Developer Kaki group has over 30 thousand members, with Daren adding that it has a loud voice within the tech industry, attracting participants ranging from students, HR professionals, C-level executives from multinational corporations and listed companies, as well as startup founders.
Technical know-how, along with discussion and advocacy for transparent salaries within the technology industry, are also common discussion topics.
Daren says the group gives members the opportunity to connect with industry peers who are much further along in their careers.
“Members are attracted to the group because they find value in the content and discussions shared within it.
“The group provides a platform for genuine knowledge that is often not easily accessible elsewhere, as it stems from real-life experiences and expertise.
“Joining the group offers the opportunity to connect with peers and individuals who are further along in their careers, spanning a range of five to 20 years.
“This networking aspect allows for valuable mentorship and guidance,” he says, adding that the group cultivates an environment where members can help each other grow with a strong sense of community.
Communities are not the only ones that are getting mileage out of social media, as some have made it an integral part of their careers.
Communities are not the only ones that are getting mileage out of social media, as some have made it an integral part of their careers. — Image by jannoon028 on Freepik
One such person is a freelance artist who only wants to be known as Benjamin.
“Social media has quite literally been the backbone of sustaining my career as a freelancer.
“On platforms like LinkedIn, which are more work-oriented than for entertainment, there are definitely features that allow one to be discovered and recognised easier.
“The discoverability through features such as reposting, tagging, and collaborating with other users significantly increases the reach and engagement with larger audiences.
“It is much easier to establish connections with recruiters who are always on the lookout for extra helpers in the creative world,” he says.
But while social media has provided a platform for the like-minded to connect and engage with one another, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, as it comes with its own set of pitfalls.
Social steering
For MHHC’s Bert, incidents where members make racial remarks or bully others are things that the group’s administrators have to contend with.
“Normally, I give them a chance the first few times, and if they keep insisting or making racial remarks and go overboard, I just kick them out.
“Off and on, we do get participants involved in the discussions who want to push their own agendas, or maybe to steer a historical narrative.
“We do get some spam or people coming in to try and sell things as well, we just delete and kick them out of the group too,” he says.
While moderators maintain the cohesiveness of a community, it’s up to the individual to ensure his or her own online safety, as social media is rife with scams. — Image by creativeart on Freepik
However, he does take a more laissez-faire approach when it comes to moderating conflict within the MHHC group.
“Most of them are grown-ups, I don’t believe in babysitting or teaching others how to behave.
“They are expected to behave, and arguments are good, it creates dynamic discussions as people will have to share facts, references and sources backing up their arguments, and we benefit from the sharing.
“Sometimes I add oil to the fire so that those who argue will come up with better evidence for their argument.
“People tend to look for more facts to boost their ego, which in turn is better for the group since we’ll get to know more.
“At the end of the day, you come to this group and enjoy yourself learning, that’s the main purpose,” he says.
Spam and fake posts are a concern for many social media users.
“Fortunately for me, I have not personally experienced this on the social media platforms that I use to search for professional work, but scams are something that I worry about when looking for a new job.
“There are times when a jobseeker may receive an ‘opportunity’ from a recruiter that could be fake or just plain old spam.
Countless communities now dot the online world, centred around a whole plethora of topics on everything from stationery to do-it-yourself projects. — Photo by dole777 on Unsplash
“Most of the time, before engaging with a possible employer or accepting a job, I vet them by checking their profile and making sure they are legitimate,” says Benjamin.
Meanwhile, Daren of the Developer Kaki group has his own set of hurdles to overcome in ensuring the group maintains a positive community experience.
“Primary challenges include addressing the presence of troll and spam accounts and personal attacks that can disrupt discussions among community members.
“We prioritise continuous moderation to create a safe and respectful space where our community members can engage without fear of harassment or inappropriate behaviour.
“Striking the right balance between promoting freedom of speech and preventing harmful conduct remains an ongoing challenge that requires careful management and intervention,” he says.
Developer Kaki also deals with similar issues as the MHHC, with banning problematic individuals high on its list of priorities.
“One of the main challenges we face is dealing with individuals who engage in behaviour such as inciting racism, spreading hatred, or launching personal attacks against other members.
“In such instances, we took firm measures by implementing bans and swiftly removing these individuals to uphold the values of respect and inclusivity within our community.
Depending on the time spent on social media, it’s essential to do an audit from time to time about how much information you are leaving online, as someone somewhere will want your data. — Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik
“It’s worth noting that when it comes to posts that criticise me as the admin, I have adopted a different approach. Rather than deleting these posts, I have chosen to leave them within the group.
“This decision stems from a commitment to transparency and fostering open dialogue in the group.
“By allowing these posts to remain visible, members can witness the constructive feedback or concerns shared by the community members,” Daren says.
Securing the space
While moderators maintain the cohesiveness of a community, it’s up to the individual to ensure his or her own online safety, as social media is rife with scams.
According to cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Network’s Malaysia country manager, Lim Suk Hua, managing your digital footprint is crucial on social media.
Lim says that managing your digital footprint is crucial to staying safe on social media. — Palo Alto Networks
“It’s a harsh reality that as we share our lives online without boundaries, we unintentionally create opportunities for those with ill intentions to take advantage of.
“Even the slightest oversharing of information can lead others to the trail of your digital footprint, guiding them closer to the vault of your privacy,” she says, advising that users follow a set of best practices to stay safe online.
This includes being conservative about the personal details you post on the platforms.
“Sharing personal details such as your full name, date of birth, home address, or phone number can put you at risk of identity theft, fraud, or stalking.
“Therefore, it’s important to be thoughtful about what personal information you share online and to consider the potential consequences of sharing that information,” says Lim.
She also recommends deleting old, unused accounts or requesting the removal of personal information from platforms to keep your online presence under control.
Lim further touched on managing how much tech companies are able to track users.
“Websites (including social media platforms) gather data about your online activity through third-party trackers and cookies, which can then be used to create a profile of you and deliver relevant advertisements.
“Ad-blockers and privacy add-ons can reduce the amount of information that is gathered about you online.
“Many websites have adjustable cookie preferences, allowing you to enable or disable specific types of cookies.
“It is also essential to clear your browser’s cookies regularly, thus erasing recorded information about your online activities,” she explains.
Data theft
Your personal data can also end up in the hands of unscrupulous third parties.
In 2018, it became public knowledge that the data of 87 million Facebook users was collected without consent by a researcher and sold to the advertising and profiling firm Cambridge Analytica.
The company exploited the data for political targeting and advertising campaigns during elections in 68 countries.
Late last year, hackers stole the data of over half a billion Facebook users, including the personal information of 11.6 million Malaysians.
Facebook’s parent company, Meta, chose to keep mum over the issue, which only came to light when the data was publicly sold. Meta was fined US$277mil (RM1.24bil) for the incident.
The stolen personal data can be misused by hackers for cybercrime, including phishing attacks and impersonation.
All in all, depending on the time spent on social media, it’s essential to do an audit from time to time about how much information you are leaving online, as someone somewhere will want your data.
