(Anti) Social Media
To what extent the misuse of Social Media can be deadly
harmful, is well understood from the incidents recently happened in our
neighbouring state Jharkhand. A camouflaged Whatsapp message in the name of a
news clip rumoured that a group of kidnappers are active in the rural areas
kidnapping children. People were cautioned to keep alert. This resulted in
people looking suspiciously to each and every person coming to that area either
for business or any other work. In the rural and tribal areas the
suspiciousness to unknown people grew so much that in two instances, the
villagers thrashed seven persons to death. Four out of the deceased were from
the minority group for which there is a communal tension growing in the said area.
Curfew had to be declared in Jamshedpur to bring the situation under control. An
overall poisoning effect of misuse of the social media has created law and
order situation because of tension and breach of peace. In the context of the
situation in Jharkhand what we may consider the social media, a boon or a
curse? This needs a serious debate.
The incidence in Jharkhand is not a stray occurrence. Where ever
there is a disturbance anywhere in the country, it is observed that the social
media is being mis-utilized to create the problem or is being used to ignite
the issue. In the very recent past, the bitterest experience was at Bhadrak in
Odisha. Similarly, the social media was in the root of the disturbance at
Rourkela. The bitter fact is that, instead of acting as a good will carrier to unite
the society, the misuse of the social media is emerging as a contagious disease
to spread hate and violence. The social media has rather become an antisocial
media in the hands of the anti-social elements. In 2012, Bengaluru was under panic and terror because
of some rumors against the north eastern states. Is it the real aim of the
social media? The matter of more concern is that, in order to break the spread
of the misutilisation of the social media, police and peace keeping forces are
becoming helpless. The perpetual indifference and in-activeness is responsible
for this to a great extent. The police is unable to take any steps even if knows
regarding the rumors being spread by the social media.
At this current time, no one can deny the positive role of
the social media towards the betterment of the society. It has made the free
information and exchange of opinions easy and convenient. It has many benefits
for the society. But, the positive side of the social media is getting hidden
by its misuse at times and the society is getting harmed in place of getting
the benefit. The users must be more responsible with increased awareness about
the benefits and harms of the social media on the society. There is a definite
need of legal provisions to prevent the misuse of the social media. However,
the common citizens’ role in this regard carries more weight than the role of
police and law and order officials.
(Based on a feature from "Dharitri," an Odia daily)
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(Based on a feature from "Dharitri," an Odia daily)
If you liked this article, please subscribe and share.
nice work
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