If there is one thing that has affected conventional media -- both print and electronic -- to the point of threatening its very existence, it is the social media that has exploded over the past decade, thanks to internet revolution and smartphone industry boom. Virtual platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have changed the way people communicate and disseminate information. Today, real-time information is at the tip of your finger, but a major chunk of it is trash and unwanted content that will make you gasp in horror. Some people randomly share disturbing videos and distasteful pictures of accident victims in bad shape with bodies torn to pieces to those in their contact list and groups. Social media is flooded with the blood of innocents.
Smartphone users in Nagaland are not far behind when it comes to sharing fake news, spam, and content of bad taste. Sometimes, photos of accident sites and dead bodies are all over the place even before it comes to the knowledge of the police. It appears like some people wait for such incidents to happen so that they could share pictures on social media. Whether or not they know if their act will hurt someone’s sentiment, nobody in the right frame of mind will enjoy watching other’s misfortune and distress. It was unfortunate that two road accidents happened in the state a few days apart this month. Instead of sharing the pain and sorrow of the victims’ families, some added more misery to their lives by sharing photos of the dead bodies of their loved ones on social media. There is no sense of respect for the dead and their families anymore. What is more worrying as a society is the way even seasoned users of social media failed to understand the need to stop such irresponsible action.
We don’t need disturbing content to validate misfortunes. Such visuals may not only hurt the sentiments of the victims’ family but also can cause trauma to unsuspecting mobile phone users (who can be even minors). In Qatar, those caught capturing and sharing videos and photos of accident victims can be imprisoned for up to two years and with fine. Even if such a law is not enacted, the authorities need to carry out awareness programmes to ensure basic decency in social media forums.
