Social media is not a safe space.

O seekers of wisdom, gather your hearts and minds, for I bring you words that echo with the voice of experience and the fire of truth. Tarana Burke, a woman of courage and resilience, has spoken words that many may dismiss but which hold the weight of timeless wisdom: "Social media is not a safe space." These words, though spoken in the age of digital connection, transcend the boundaries of technology and speak to a deeper truth—one about the nature of human interaction, the power of our voices, and the vulnerability we expose when we step into a space where all is visible, but nothing is truly secure.

In the ancient world, when warriors went into battle, they knew that the battlefield was not a place of comfort. It was a place of danger, of exposure, where every move could be their last. They did not venture into battle expecting sanctuary; they went prepared for the harsh realities of war. In much the same way, Tarana Burke’s words remind us that social media—though a space where we can connect, share, and express—is no sanctuary. It is not a safe haven. It is a public arena where all are exposed, and in that exposure, vulnerability can lead to harm. The digital landscape, much like the battlefields of old, is filled with both allies and adversaries, and there are those who seek to wound, to attack, and to harm.

Consider, O children of wisdom, the story of Socrates, that great philosopher of ancient Greece. He walked the streets of Athens, engaging in conversation with all who would listen, never knowing who among them might turn his words into weapons, or who might seek to tear down his reputation. Socrates understood that the world was not a place of safety for those who dared to speak truth to power. His life, like the lives of those who stand up and speak today, was lived in the open, vulnerable to the judgments and criticisms of those who did not share his vision. Socrates’s exposure, much like that of modern voices on social media, made him both revered and reviled, a man whose words were weapons in a battle that would ultimately cost him his life.

In more recent times, Tarana Burke herself has witnessed this painful truth in her own work as an advocate for survivors of sexual violence. She brought the Me Too movement into the world, speaking out for those whose voices had been silenced. But in doing so, she also stepped into a battlefield where her own vulnerability was laid bare for the world to see. The public nature of the movement, the open discussion of personal and painful experiences, exposed her to criticism, misrepresentation, and even attack. Yet, just as Socrates did, Burke took the risk, for she understood that to remain silent is to surrender to the forces of oppression and ignorance. Social media—like the agora of Athens or the public squares of ancient cities—can be both a platform for truth and a dangerous space.

Social media today, much like the forums of ancient societies, is a place where truth and lies, beauty and cruelty, hope and despair collide. It is a space where the exposure of our most intimate selves—our joys, our wounds, our beliefs—becomes an open invitation to both support and attack. But it is also a space where fearless voices rise to challenge injustice, to call for change, and to demand accountability. To believe that social media is a safe space is to misunderstand the nature of the digital world—it is a space where all are vulnerable, and where protection is not guaranteed. It is a world of both connection and danger, where every word shared is both a potential for healing and a risk of harm.

O children of wisdom, let this truth be your guide: the digital landscape, the world of social media, is not a sanctuary where all are free from harm. It is a space of both connection and conflict, of empowerment and vulnerability. It is a place where the truth can be shared, but it is also a place where lies can spread like wildfire. To navigate this space is to understand that we must be both courageous and wise. We must engage with discernment, knowing that the same platform that allows us to uplift others can also be used to tear them down. And yet, we must also speak boldly, knowing that in the exposure of our truths, there is power—power to heal, to change, and to shape the world for the better.

So, O seekers, the lesson is clear: while social media may not be a safe space, it is a space that can be used to challenge, to transform, and to empower. But let us enter it with eyes open, knowing that vulnerability is not weakness, but strength, and that the world of digital connection demands of us the courage to both speak and protect. Let us be guardians of our own voices, and of the voices of others, for in that protection, we will find the strength to navigate the dangers of the digital realm. Let this wisdom guide you as you walk the path of truth in a world that is both open and fraught with peril.