There’s no denying that social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook have thrown open the door to making new friends, chat buddies, and even business associates. It has connected users with others who share similar interests and causes, such as helping with animal rescue. Many of these relationships have moved from the virtual world into the “real world.” I use quotation marks around real world for the simple reason that some people seem to believe that social media friends are not real friends, but some sort of fantasy friends. You’ll see a lot of criticism of social media these days, which leads me to the assumption that maybe these critics don’t know how to properly use social media. Sure there are individuals with sinister motives who use it, and when this happens it receives a lot of publicity. But these cases are in the minority. I have made wonderful friends via social media, some of whom are now face-to-face friends. I would never have met these people were it not for Facebook or Twitter. The odds would be impossible.
My famous bear Teddy Tedaloo has also made countless friends through social media, and many are now mine. In fact, there’s a very active and vibrant international community of furry creatures (known in some circles as “stuffies”) who have all met through social media. Add to this dogs, cats, horses, etc., etc. and you have a lively bunch of social media users who are just out to have a bit of fun, make new friends, chat, and keep others informed about things that are important to them. Some might even use social media due to loneliness or isolation. Whatever their circumstances and reasons, they just want someone to talk to and not feel so alone in the world. Social media has been a life saver for many and it should stop being vilified.
Many of us have been affected by the struggles of our social media friends. We cry with them over the illness or death of their beloved dog or cat or other fur-kid. We cry with them over the illness or death of a partner or family member. We learn about their lives, their struggles, their joys. We get used to seeing them around. We recognise the patterns of their communication. Some users pop on and off at random times; others are more regular. If someone is absent for a length of time, we worry. We wonder if they’re okay. Did something happen? Are they ill? Do they need help?
Which brings me to the purpose of this blog post. Not everyone has a circle of reliable friends, family or neighbours close by. Some people have no one to check up on them or perhaps they live somewhere remote. Or perhaps they don’t live in a place where people look out for each other. Or perhaps they are private and don’t want others around. If these individuals are retired, elderly, home-bound, or work for themselves (and therefore aren’t expected to show up at a place of work), it’s possible their “absence” can go unnoticed for a considerable amount of time. And by then it might be too late. So when these individuals vanish from the one place they’re always seen, namely social media, it’s time to raise the alarm.
The timing of this post is due to the recent death of an individual from Teddy’s online ursine community. This gentleman, dubbed the “valet” of a very popular and well-liked bear, hadn’t been tweeting or posting and friends were becoming concerned. The last anyone had heard, the fellow was ill and at home. However, the period of silence grew lengthier. Those who had his mobile number tried repeatedly to reach him. Someone phoned the local police, explaining that this absence from social media and virtual events (which were very regularly attended) was not the norm. Whoever took the call indicated that these concerns apparently didn’t meet the “criteria” for a police welfare check. Clearly, he or she didn’t take the matter very seriously.
A work colleague drove out to the house, only to find the gentleman dead. Could his death have been prevented had the police done a welfare check? Had they acted when the call had come in, it’s possible an ambulance would’ve been dispatched, since I understand the fellow was still alive at the time the call to police was made. It’s important to mention that this happened in a small community in Wales, not Compton USA, where police resources are stretched to the limit. The last I heard, Wales (especially its villages and small towns) isn’t exactly a hotbed of hardcore crime. So why the local police couldn’t be arsed to send a community support officer or even a regular police officer to do a welfare check is a question that needs answering. When someone who’s consistent on social media suddenly vanishes, not even answering the phone or replying to messages, it needs to be taken seriously.
If it ends up being a false alarm, so be it. But better a false alarm than an unnecessary death. If this post helps save a life and gives a heads up to the next police officer who receives a similar worried phone call, then my day has been well spent.
