Use freedom of speech wisely

Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right enshrined in the Constitution and international human rights treaties.

It denotes the freedom to express one’s thoughts, opinions and beliefs without fear of censorship, persecution, or punishment.

However, with this freedom comes a responsibility to ensure that our words and actions do not harm others or their rights.

Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy which has shaped history.

From the one-party movement to democracy, free speech has been a powerful tool for social change.

It has been used to challenge oppressive regimes and to bring attention to injustices and inequalities.

However, the rise of social media has made freedom of expression more complex with the flexibility to instantly share ones` thoughts and opinions with a global audience.

This has led to an increase in hate speech, misinformation and online harassment, a new low in the fundamental human right outlined in international law.

However, some forms of self-expression are not culturally acceptable. They are actually in conflict with other human rights. These include defamation and hate speech.

Governments use laws to curb freedom of expression when it conflicts with other human rights.

This helps protect the rights, well-being or reputations of others, national security, public order, public health and morals.

Therefore, social media influencers, the clergy, law enforcers, politicians and others must exercise caution when sharing information with their followers even on matters that are of public interest.

To maintain the integrity, it is essential to strike a balance between the right to express ourselves and the need to protect others from harm.

This balance is often referred to as responsibility, the duty to consider the impact our words and actions.

One way to achieve this is by promoting critical thinking and media literacy. This involves educating ourselves on how to evaluate information, identify biases and propaganda and recognise the difference between fact and opinion.

It also involves being aware of our own biases and assumptions, and making an effort to listen to different perspectives and engage in respectful dialogue.

This also calls for clear guidelines for online behaviour, including reporting hate speech, online harassment and harmful content.

Those hurt by free speech should hold offenders accountable for their actions online and those affected by online abuse should get support.

It is important to recognise that freedom of expression is not absolute. There are limits to it.

For example, inciting violence, defamation and promoting hate speech may result in criminal charges.

Those in information management, information sharing and all information gatekeepers must help civic educate communities to desist from circulating and listening to unverified news.

Those at the receiving end should anlayse the information before forwarding or sharing to others.

To be on the lookout, here are the qualities of good information defined as an acronym ACCURATE—accurate, complete, cost-beneficial, user target, relevant, authenticate, timely and easy-to-use.

While one fails to process information  they can use, that is information overload. Please, exit the social media and stay away from receiving and circulating forwarded information you cannot independently verify.

By promoting critical thinking, media literacy and clear guidelines for online behaviour, we can ensure that our words and actions do not harm others or infringe on their rights.

By striking a balance between our right to express ourselves and our duty to protect others, we can create a more just and equitable society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.