Of Justice and Social Media

In Book IV of The Republic, Plato has Socrates define justice as "the minding of one's own business and not being a busybody... the having and doing of one's own and what belongs to oneself".

Plato's Socrates believes a just society is one in which each person is focused on his own responsibilities and property, not meddling in the affairs of others or stealing their property.

Inasmuch as the reader may see that there is some validity to this definition (though there may be other aspects of true justice we should add to the definition), we must—nevertheless—acknowledge that individuals seeking to live justly in society are necessarily faced with serious challenges regarding what it means to 'mind one's own business'.  What "belongs to oneself" (intellectually and conversationally speaking) versus what belongs to the interests of others? Whether one is a carpenter, shoemaker, or soldier (or whatever vocation), one will interact with others in daily life in a way that will often make murky the border between what's part of my proper focus versus what is yours.

Regardless of the exact boundary/boundaries between what's my business and yours, we must acknowledge that there is a pull to improperly involve ourselves in others' business: to become unduly focused on matters not relevant to our own vocation; to—in effect—become busybodies. This pull is exacerbated by mass media. And this pull has gained blackhole-force strength with the advent of social media.

Consider, dear reader: does your social media consumption help you to focus on your vocation (speaking of your job, but also your other community callings: within your family, church, etc.)? Does your social media consumption draw your attention to controversies that you would never even know about if it weren't for your smartphone? Does social media help you to mind your own business, or is it making you a busybody? Is social media helping you to become a just person, positively contributing to your community in your vocation(s)?