- As the technology-driven social media evolves easing seamlessly into our daily lives almost assuming ubiquitous presence, especially microblogging sites like Twitter and WhatsApp, creating an impression of comfort amongst the users not experienced before whilst exchanging information virtually on everything under the sun. Humanity has not only embraced the medium with an open arm but also utilizing the opportunity presented optimally to reach out and stay connected. A list of a growing number of millions subscribing to the medium substantiates the popularity as well as acceptability of the same across the spectrum. Undoubtedly, information technology-enabled advancements are turning out to be an unprecedented big boon for sure.
PC: Tony Tran
- Like in any innovations, advantages and disadvantages are par for the course parameters associated with social media platforms as well. Whereas the microblogging sites are being increasingly adopted to keep the real-time flow of information reaches to the intended beneficiaries, the disadvantage of failing to verify the same for authenticity and genuineness carries enough ingredients to create public nuisance sometimes triggering unforeseen situations. There are several instances in the recent past highlighting such insensitive and unauthenticated news forwards succeeding in triggering widespread violence resulting in law and order problems.
- Wittingly or unwittingly, few such instances readily come to mind since it is tough to repress oneself from relaying news, briefs, biases, rumors, and general information emanating from social media networks. No sooner the unfortunate events unfolded on the Republic Day where farmers’ tractor rally turned violent started trending, in no time the forwards depicting graphic details about the rioters running rampage went viral. One such forward carried information about a rallying farmer dying of bullet injury had the potential to unleash bloody carnage but for the timely release of a CCTV footage of the farmer losing life as his tractor overturned due to the impact.
PC: Team MP
- The entire world witnessed what transpired on the US Capitol building when right-wing rioters stormed the citadel of power rummaging through the hallowed portals with such disdain. Yes, those distressingly harrowing pictures were shared in real-time with forwards ensuring the rest. Likewise, a high-profile MP from West Bengal had wrongly attributed a Netaji portrait inaugurated at Rashtrapati Bhavan to a Bengali actor who essayed the legendary leader on celluloid. Albeit such tweets were forced to be deleted, the damage was done by then. The moot point to ponder over here is why the responsible individual(s) fail to exercise due diligence before forwarding news?
- It happened during the passing away of renowned actors last year where their hospitalization videos and mortal remains were forwarded insensitively without respecting the privacy nor showing enough maturity befitting grownups. Coming from politicians and prominent personalities indulging in misinformation might even pose law and order risks amid extreme social polarization which appears to be the order of the day. No wonder, the political parties have all but weaponized the digital social media where the literacy levels of the medium are still nascent. Thus, the onus rests on each one of us to show restraint and maturity before forwarding unverified news.
