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THE OTHER FACE OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA




            I have no doubts about the manifold benefits which have come to all of us due to the evolution of social media in the recent time. It has become a great blessing, because it helps us not only to share information, but also to break various types of walls that have divided the humanity into uncompromising and distrusting fragments.

          However, a recent incident has provoked me to direct my thoughts towards the damaging impact of social media on individuals and society.

MUSLIM GIRL WAS BURNT ALLIVE AFTER PROPOSING TO A HINDU YOUTH
            It all began when a video clip that proliferated through a social media app came to our friends circle. The discussion became very hot when the above-mentioned title became its central topic. Explanation followed soon, and it was surmised that the event took place in Andhra Pradesh. Gruesome details followed. It was further alleged that the relatives and neighbors of the Muslim girl burnt her alive for proposing to a Hindu youth. I was coerced to watch the video, as the name of Andhra Pradesh evinced my interest, for I had lived 15 years of my life there.
            The graphic of the video was quite disturbing and it left me shocked and shattered. However, in a moment I recovered from my numbness, and began to apply reason. The first thing that came to my mind was the dress code of the woman who was burnt alive. The woman in the video wore black T shirt and blue shorts, the second of which is highly unlikely for a woman in public in Andhra Pradesh.
            
          Following this, I made a serious enquiry into the incident. The inquiry revealed that the video in question belonged to an event in Guatemala where a 16 year old girl was burnt alive by an irate mob. She was accused to be a part of a gang that killed many people, and the mob showered its uncontrolled anger on the girl who was in a helpless situation. Read more details.
            This is not the only example of its kind which involves misrepresentation of facts on social media. At times, misrepresentation of fact takes place due to shear ignorance of man. But never to forget is the fact that there are many unholy elements that intentionally misrepresent facts to gain undue advantages.
            This incident cannot leave us without teaching some of the much needed lessons to handle social media. Out relation with social media should be built on the foundation of reality and rationality. What appears in front of us is a matter of perspective, and it is our bounden duty to inquire into the reality and rationality of it from all the corners, before establishing an emotional attachment to it. It is all about whether you want to become the master of social media or end up as a victim of social media.

Comments

  1. Anonymous20 June 2015 at 04:57

    This is a must-read for everyone.

    ReplyDelete
  2. TAACHAL20 June 2015 at 04:58

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. TAACHAL20 June 2015 at 05:16

    It is a question whether one wants to become a master of social media or ends up as a slave of it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. kumar20 June 2015 at 22:12

    When information is strewn as hay, people tend to post or share the message very quickly in order to show the world that they did it first. Our news channels too are to be blamed for getting into microsecond racing. People have to be responsible to dive into the depths of the news to actually find out what the problem is. Or else, there would be frenzied chaos all around.

    ReplyDelete
  5. TAACHAL24 June 2015 at 18:06

    Thanks Author Kumar for your valuable comment. In fact, many of the big troubles in the current world come from misinterpretation of ideas and events. At present,other than self-guidance, there in no other mechanism to control it.

    ReplyDelete

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