DailyPost 186
SOCIAL MEDIA – ORIENTATION FLAW!
The onset of the 24/7 electronic media convincingly transformed news to entertainment and what were hard facts earlier to opinions, thoughts et al, bringing news to the grey area of understanding. The social media which entered our lives with so much of fanfare, giving us a global publishing tool in our hands, a vent to all to express their knowledge and activities has been brought degraded levels of plagiarism, may it be jokes, pun or sarcasm and making it completely bereft of worthwhile content. It has reached a level where lots of eminent personalities deride the usage of social media.
Trolling & propaganda wars besides data misuse has become the order of the day. Social media had not only failed to provide the required content, which was missing in the mainstream media, it has been successful changing our orientation from issues and opinions which are serious, original, educational and informative . The out of the box characters have joined the mainstream social media to the extent, that they feel that social media is not meant for the above mentioned purposes. Hooliganism has becomes its hallmark and efforts are made not to allow entry to sane views and thoughts into large number of groups. Over to the Dons!
Professional content writers are catering to this taste are ruling the roost. What is worrying is not the content itself but the orientation where educational, informative, credible facts and views are running the risk of extermination. There are groups which declare that fun & frolic from their point of view, can only be allowed for larger consumption.
Social media intends to change the status quo, bring in facts / issues uncovered by the mainstream media, facilitate ushering in a new narrative, besides providing and excellent scope for social interaction . It should be allowed to take its own course. Vested interests can derail this process. It’s in the interest of the society to take remedial measures.
POSITIVELY ORIENTED SOCIAL MEDIA IS AT THE CORE OF RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
Sanjay Sahay