Social media a powerful tool that can influence daily lives: Salleh

KUALA LUMPUR: Social media is a powerful empowerment tool which can influence various aspects of people's daily lives, including economically, socially and politically.
Communications and Multimedia Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said, however, such a powerful tool was a double-edged sword which must be used with heavy responsibility.
"Its wrong use can cause undue destruction and pain, while right use builds the community and strengthens the economy and livelihoods.
"Hence, social media must be used with caution and with responsibility. Respect the law and let civility, social graces and ethics be the guiding principles."
Salleh said this in his speech at the Malaysia Social Media Week Awards 2017 presentation organised by the Social Media Chambers (SMC), here, tonight.
There were 33 categories in the contest for the awards, aimed at promoting the role of social media by honouring some of the best social media companies in Asia.
Meanwhile, Salleh said the rate of broadband penetration in households nationwide had reached 81.8% as at the first quarter of this year.
He said during the same period, 103.6 per 100 inhabitants in the country had access to broadband connectivity while cellular phone ownership had reached 134 per 100 inhabitants.
"Based on the statistics gathered in 2016, 77.6% of the Malaysian population or 24.1 million are Internet users, of whom 80% of them are social media users.
"Each user has an average of four social media accounts, who mainly use them for communication and getting information," he added. — Bernama