It can be best described as an egg, very delicate and important. Once it breaks it can’t be mended, therefore you need to treat it with maximum care and attention. What am I referring to?

Well I am referring to “our words and speech”. Our speech and words are very important. Not only our speech but also what we write and all the action we take on the internet and including the physical world too.

Expression an essential Human nature.

A lot of people have been "kicked down the ladder" all because of their speech or some utterances they made, be it in the past or present.

We; humans love expressing our views and most of us that live in countries with little or no restriction of freedom of speech; do so easily.

Before the arrival of social medias and internet. Most people air their opinions be it in politics or other topics, through discussion in public places where there is a convergence of people like; the coffee shop, forums or at the newspaper vendor or at the barber shop.

With the arrival of internet and social medias things have changed a lot. The world has become a global village as a result of internet connectivity. We can read, hear and watch news of nearby and faraway places in a twinkle of an eye. We can also comment on various platforms on the internet.

Absolute freedom?

Unlike mainstream medias like television and radio stations the internet offers a bigger platform to air our thoughts and have discussion ranging from different topics. People living in countries where the government are not repressive when it comes to expressing one political interest do so with freedom online.

But many aren’t aware that there is nothing as absolute freedom. What you say or do must conform with the rules of the land. For example coming online to insult a particular person or spoiling a person’s reputation can be described as a act of libeling, and you could get the other party offended and in turn you can be sued according to local laws.

Because the social media is free and wide doesn’t mean we should open our mouth or express our thoughts without applying civility into it.

Once posted, always posted!

There is a saying that says; “once posted, always posted”. The saying is a way of telling people about the nature of social media, when you post something out on the internet, there is a chance of it not disappearing even when you go ahead and delete it. Not only on social media but mainstream medias.

For example you can still watch an interview of a famous person taken years ago, even the famous person might have forgotten that he or she did such an interview. What you say or write on social media can be used against one in future, especially when you get popular.

We have to extremely careful, and when we want to criticize; we need to do so constructively and not out of banting sake especially when it comes to serious national matters or matters that refer to a particular group of people.

Change of views and ideas.

Humans tend to have a shift in view of things as they grow old. Sometimes we might support a particular way of doing things or ideology and only to become adults or get to middle age and beyond and have a rethought. It is part of life. That why you need to be careful of holding a particular view or belief in an extreme way. As it could come back to hurt you in future.

Anything you say could be...

Before you make any utterances in public spaces like the internet you need to be very careful because in law: "anything you say can be used against you". I don’t mean like generally being sued but people might form their point of opinion about you from what you write and do online even when it might not be the true or complete representation of you.

Closing remark

Always remember you have the right to speak and also the right to remain silent. Use both rights judiciously.

Thanks for reading