Social media platforms are flooded with content, revolving around diverse topics with a multitude of ideologies. These views are rooted deeply into a person’s cultural, philosophical, and familial perspectives, forming their ‘mental conditioning’. Subsequently, they weave into strong beliefs and convictions, which drive their actions and outlook throughout their life. These form the personality of a person.
In today’s world, where everything is a click away, social media creators are monetized for the content they deliver and the resultant popularity through views and likes. The younger impressionable audiences devour this content, resulting in pitched toxic arguments affecting mental health at large.
In the crowded array of social media identities, just to carve out a ‘niche’, some influencers resort to posting extreme takes, in the guise of ‘frankness’ or as fresh ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking. However, what may be sensible in one context may not be relevant to another person, based on the conditioning of the recipient. There are no filters to what they can post and some readers are impressionable enough to find the same attractive or mesmerizing. These are kind of ‘online cults’, in a way.
Toxic internet wars erupt on these platforms every day– ranging from topics as simple as a Halloween costume, to the reasons behind grave events occurring worldwide. The armchair ‘geniuses’ ideate liberally with no accountability, passing reckless comments with impunity. What makes social media a devil in disguise is the lack of an international legal framework governing these posts. Anyone can post their judgements misleading and brainwashing the followers.
We, as humans, seek the approval of like-minded individuals to get our opinions validated. Validation doesn’t imply blindly aligning with others’ views. Validation and alignment should come from being empathetic, while resolute. From being open-minded, and understanding the other’s own context and then carefully analyzing the subject in totality before jumping to conclusions. Users must be aware that social media requires instant judgment. Relentless backlash runs rampant.
Ironically, social media influencers do not portray the same kind of respect and adoration in their real-life existence as they do online. It requires complete honesty in action during day-to-day living to do so. Behind the veil of anonymity offered by the internet, armed with misguided beliefs– they spread these flawed theories hoping to gain views and likes. They then feel purpose in their own existence. This is further encouraged by the monetary benefits and dopamine kick that the likes and views give them.
Isn’t it extremely grueling to find a balanced view while scrolling through the numerous debates across media platforms?
Social media is a double-edged sword. It can be really powerful during natural disasters or emergencies through faster reach of messages. It has democratized authorship and readership. YouTube and other platforms have proven effective in imparting life-saving skills, motivational lectures like TedX, recommending soul-stirring books, sharing delicious recipes, vlogs, tourist videos of some enchanting sites and scores of such useful information. At the same time, the discerning user of social media platforms needs to apply caution, judgment and prudence while consuming these posts, and not be easily carried away by biased and toxic views. Responsibility and prudence are crucial for consumption of social media to reap its benefits.
Written by Pragna Ameya Kona
Edited by Dhriti Bharadwaj
Uploaded by Vaishnavi Katiyar
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