Social Media and Its Implications

Human is a social animal and humans long for interaction naturally whether they are with family, friends, social media friends!, in classes, in the workplace. We need to express ourselves as our expression leads to interaction with others like starting a discussion with peers on a random topic. Our interactions are not only to satisfy our need to interact but they also lead to a increase in knowledge and also change our perspective on things. We learn to look form other's perspective.

We are in the era in which information is abundant and this plethora of information is just like water in a dam waiting for a few cracks (clicks in case of social media) to explode onto the community. Social media is informative and has reformed our means of information because of development in communication technology. Twitter has manhandled even newspaper companies to make twitter accounts which I think is a very big thing. The good thing about social media is we are not dependent on a few news agencies for truth (we feel inquisitive to know the truth), every person with a mobile phone and internet connection is a reporter for the people and this has broken the monopoly of these agencies which were able to suppress the truth in the past for financial advantages. 

But while truth is easily accessible (relatively) , lie is also on the loose. We have to be very careful now to crosscheck the information as these social media platforms are also being used to manipulate the public and this time with state of the art tools of big data and machine learning for example, the involvement of Cambridge Analytica in the American Elections. 

I and so many others have noticed that social media has also become an easy way to start debates which are not bound by the rules or debates. I can write a few lines in a public post on a controversial topic and many will be offended. After that many people will come on comments and ladies & gentlemen a war of words has started on Facebook. 

All the social media users need to understand that there is a very good use of social media for getting knowledge and even starting revolutions and campaigns for a good cause. After posting the videos of police harassment many policemen have been suspended. We also need to understand that social media is also very dangerous it can lead to assaults on some "vocal" people. The social media pages are sponsored to spread hate whether it is communal, ethnic, racial or religion based. 

With the advent of social media, states are finding it difficult to control many mishaps. As at this very moment someone is being brainwashed to act out of law. Even parents are not aware of the social media interactions of their children who may be interacting with militant organizations directly or indirectly. 

On social media we can start long inconclusive debates which are not actually debates. Some people even like to incite others to just see them quarreling and enjoy thinking that they have the power to manipulate others' emotions. But one should learn to behave intelligently and should control his/her emotions. As Aristotle said:

"Anybody can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy."

We should avoid just giving opinions on social media without any facts to back them. The main reason for a debate is to increase knowledge about an issue but the debates need to be systematic. One should first study the matter and after developing an opinion about the matter discuss it with the people who have knowledge of the issue. Just firing your opinions on a platform with all kinds of people who may be offended by your idea of the matter, does more bad than good. Social media has also increased depression in people as it is also source of cyber-bullying and one may be destroying lives of another without even knowing. One should practice empathy online (and offline) and try to see things from others perspective. Tolerance is the need of the hour for our society as most of the actions taken in anger lead to remorse. 

And the funny side of social media is what I love. The meme content is very amazing and creative though it also offends many. I enjoy watching memes and sometimes I see a meme and get to know something informative when I dig into the source of meme. We should know that life is all about actions and consequences or in other words it is about causality. For every revolution there should must be a cause whether religious, economical or social. We should think of the consequences before acting on something. Enjoy a 15-20 minutes of memes daily, read a few pages of book and find people to discuss with, do some exercise, spend time with family & friends, be kind, be generous, do community service and work also. In short, Be Cyber-smart! :) #CyberBullying #Emotions #SocialMedia #Society #Tolerance #Hate