One of the craziest myths to be shattered in the last decade is that Old generation is not tech savvy and would crib on the younger generation being glued to the social media. We can find even the older generation trying to create their identity in the virtual world.
The affirmative side of the story- social media connects all.
The Other side- Does it really connect? The biggest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance, it is illusion of the knowledge.
Perhaps beyond the conventional issues faced by the society as terrorism, pollution, political disturbances, a giant menace that has masked well and is difficult to uncover is the one created by abundant usage of social media.
One day when every gadget would be connected by thin invisible wires the so called social animal would be disconnected with the real visible world.
Ask people around you and they will boast of their followers, friend lists and the huge online popularity and to make things worse, they love it that way. Being engaged today includes being busy online and that is hugely becoming acceptable.
With millions of people spending on an average of 2 hours a day on a given social networking site, it is bound to create a commendable effect on the way people think, see and form opinions. It has become the most sorted medium of communication for the people who love to interact beyond the distance and time frame, yes, it is such an influencer that it never tires anyone until and unless one withdraws oneself from it. The electronic connections have become much more significant than the real life connection and people have started judging you by your followers and following.
This also amounts to revealing underlying issues of teenage obesity, short-lived relationships, emotional trauma, and a race to a sense of image superiority fueling jealousy and breeding unhealthy competition.
Let’s not complicate it by going deep into the virtues and woes of the social networking though many would agree that the social networking is not working the way it should have. The essence is somewhere lost in the quantitative evaluation than the qualitative accountability.
The trending topics take the shape of the typhoon and in no time reach every nook and corner but who cares to check if they were worth enough to take that gigantic shape OR check the starting point OR if they have maintained the dignity of the cause? Do we?
One and all are responsible for the fading charm that was once considered to be a ‘fix’ meeting place for the people who have nowhere to go but social media to voice their opinion. Today all we care is the trending topics and jump into the train without even knowing the truth. The social media is gormandizing us and somewhere we are happy about it.
The social media is like a buffet lunch set on an embellished table and you simply pick what you like.
Nevertheless, it was not as eroded as earlier. A solid platform that has given a chance to millions to say which no other medium would take the interest in. To interact with people, they never thought exist. To know the truth of the other side of the coin. To repair the damage done earlier and sometimes even before. And, to bring a revolution even without stepping on the road with candles.
The Bane with the Social Media– the true fragrance that is somewhere lost in the current time where rumors travel faster than the reality, paid influencers trick people in believing them, and how a simple sentence is twisted and turned into sensational news. It just takes a click and the words fly far and wide.
Politics and rigidity have dented open-minded discussions, logical interactions have taken back seat and communication gap has widened. Well, the fault is that the social media users do not verify facts before accepting it. The sole aim of the social media was to offer a platform to share ideas, interact in good faith and connect the world, but the disdainfulness has crept in and few are making it a platform to fulfill their personal agenda.
If you thought I am in the favor of curtailing the freedom of the social media, and a campaigner to bring some tough laws to keep a control on it then you got it all wrong!
More the laws, more the menace.
I agree that social media has slipped off & need to be disciplined but again, it is everyone’s responsibility to use it delicately and dedicate especially the newbie who start without understanding the basics of the social media.
Less of interaction and more of confrontation is the new flavor of the social media. Earlier, it was engagement and now its an argument.
Swamped by the people with different interests in mind, it is a clever idea to play it safe and not get carried away with the flow.
Howbeit, it has a long way to go and just like the river’s meandering course, social media too is meandering and will cut straight provided people are educated and know what they are up to.
