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I don’t know how to tell you this, but social media isn’t exactly a safe space.

A number of people treat their social media accounts like personal photo albums.

Unlike the collection of embarrassing pictures that your mom hauls out at the slightest provocation, however, these are online.

And, when something is online, it’s only a matter of time before someone sees it, screenshots it, and sends it off for trial by Twitter.

The national lockdown ushered in a host of new rules that we have to abide by – an idea that a few South Africans seem to be having a tough time digesting.

Within days of the initial 21-day lockdown, Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams was in hot water after former deputy minister of higher education Mduduzi Manana posted a picture of a very social lunch, Stella isn’t the only government official who has shown little regard for the regulations.

More recently, IOL got hold of a photograph posted on Facebook of a police officer in Kwa-Zulu Natal celebrating her 40th birthday with her colleagues:

Photo: IOL

I guess we’ll add her to the list of police and other law enforcement officials currently under investigation. 

The husband of the woman celebrating her birthday above now believes “his wife’s colleagues who had visited were at the centre of a conspiracy to ruin their lives”, so perhaps the best approach is to trust nobody.

South Africa isn’t alone in this regard.

The Washington Post reported on a number of top officials worldwide who have been caught breaking lockdown rules in their own countries.

British epidemiologist Neil Ferguson, a key adviser to the British government on its coronavirus response, was busted when a woman “described as his lover” visited him at home.

New Zealand Health Minister David Clark called himself an “idiot” after he violated the country’s lockdown with a visit to the beach.

While we’re on the topic of beaches, a man was arrested in Hawaii after he ignored regulations and then posted pictures of himself enjoying the beach on – you guessed it – Instagram.

For a list of the 1 205 beaches where people continue to break lockdown rules, head here.

While these examples are relatively high-profile or made it into the news, take a scroll through Facebook or Instagram and you’ll likely see similar rule flouting from the general public here in South Africa.

The rules of the lockdown are simple – stay home and physically distance yourself from the public, and adhere to strict safety guidelines when you are outside.

If you’re going to break those rules, then posting about it on social media seems like a surefire way to court trouble.

Yes, you’re desperate for the likes, but it’s ended badly for many people already, so think before you post.

Oh, and think before you break those rules, too.

[source:iol&washingtonpost]