Perils and Opportunities of Social Media

Social media may have drastically changed the way information is being disseminated over the years, to the point of almost killing traditional media outlets such as newspapers and television, but it still suffers a big setback when it comes to credibility. With hordes of fake content being circulated on social media, people need to constantly verify to ensure that they are not misled. A study led by author Dominik Stecula from University of Pennsylvania has also found out that people who rely on social media for information are more likely to be misinformed about vaccines than those who rely on traditional media. Frequent social media users will agree to this as old videos and photos are often circulated again and again for similar events, thus confusing users. Despite several limitations, it is one platform that has become part of our everyday life. It has turned into an indispensable tool for businesses to engage with customers, political parties heavily depend on it during elections to reach out to targeted audiences, and common people use it to communicate with others and for entertainment purposes. Most importantly, everybody — the good, the bad and the ugly, as well as the ordinary and the famous — enjoy equal opportunity on this platform. And anything can happen.

Filipino singer and songwriter Arnel Pineda’s rags-to-riches tale is a classic example of how social media can change your life if you have the talent and zeal to achieve your dream. His ascend from rag-picking to becoming the frontman of the American rock band Journey after replacing the legendary Steve Perry, was incredible. It would have never happened if there was no video-sharing platform called YouTube. The members of the band discovered Pineda just two years after YouTube was founded and the rest of the journey is history. But he was not the only person who earned fame through this platform. Thousands of people around the world are today dependant on social media for their livelihood. It has become a money-spinner for many as the industry that was once controlled by a few is today open to all. Anybody from around the world can earn through the platform, provided they have interesting content for the international audience. Many people from Northeast India too have joined the bandwagon and some channels like Blue Wave Records, Shillong Chamber Choir and Dreamz Unlimited are doing well and growing fast. While the competition has become tough and it will get tougher with more people continuing to join the fray, there will always be space for the talented. Musicians, especially those struggling to make a breakthrough in the industry, should plunge into this platform, and try their luck by covering popular songs besides working on originals. Remember that India is a country with more than 1.2 billion people. No wonder people from other countries cover Indian songs of varied languages. They know that India is a big market. More artistes from north-eastern states too should enter this market if they want to reach a bigger audience. The opportunities for are endless but the perils are also great, so it’s ultimately up to the individual to use social media responsibly and with caution.