The self focused society
I had been a active 'Social Networker' until one fine day I got bored of it. I gradually got off my social handle while I continued creating true in person networks. While I was in this abode of happiness with that new found inner peace (picturing 'PO the Dragon warrior' in my head), there was a distortion when I happened to overhear a conversation.
X- Did you notice Y off late does not update many pictures on Facebook. I think something is going on
A- Oh yeah! I even noticed his Whatsapp pics. can you believe it is his single pics and not with his wife.
X- Don't tell me! Do you think their love life is going down side?
Oh boy!! I gave myself a mental kick for having overheard this conversation.While I do not know what is going on with Y and I was really not so worried as my dear friend X is, something as simple as not being active on social networks or having a single pic of self as a DP, could turn out to be such a grave mistake was a lightning bolt in the sky. I started observing such reactions among my close friends and family. I randomly asked them how they would feel if they notice a married girl/boy post a single pic of themselves in their Social networking handle. There were hardly a few who asked me 'Is that even a question!'. Back in the day, during my mom's and my grand mom's days it was a must that married women always sport the Sindhoor and I guess this is a new norm. Probably one pacifying factor could be that the new norm is gender neutral.
Nevertheless, the sheer joy that we derive in building up our own imagination and stories, when things aren't the way it is 'supposed' to be is priceless! I am sure X did a mental somersault when A added more spice to the conversation.
The unfathomable news that I keep reading about off late is on Mob lynching based on Whatsapp forwards. While we are arguing about how to curb the use of social media in spreading such false messages, am left to wonder why isn't anyone arguing about where Humanity is? Since when did we Humans turn on the beast mode that we started believing violence is the only source of outcome? I have still not gone a day without a news of a sexual assault on a child- irrespective of the gender. I am not surprised that Television shows like 'Big boss' are turning out to be a huge hit. Our addiction to Social networks has reached a peak that we forget we are that Indian neighbor aunt who always knows what is happening at your home. Atleast the Indian neighbor aunt was keeping an eye only on one family unlike us who has access to 1k accounts. That's the average number of Social networking friends a person has.
There are enough scientists researching about this Social Networking addiction. Why don't we take a pause and think about what actually gives us happiness than projecting an image for the society? Maybe, stop wondering what is wrong with someone when they don't post happy couple pictures. Start thinking what is that I need for my own self than trying to satisfy the self focused society standards. And that reminds me, my DP on my Whatsapp isn't with my husband either. oops!
Vive!
Me Myself :)
X- Did you notice Y off late does not update many pictures on Facebook. I think something is going on
A- Oh yeah! I even noticed his Whatsapp pics. can you believe it is his single pics and not with his wife.
X- Don't tell me! Do you think their love life is going down side?
Oh boy!! I gave myself a mental kick for having overheard this conversation.While I do not know what is going on with Y and I was really not so worried as my dear friend X is, something as simple as not being active on social networks or having a single pic of self as a DP, could turn out to be such a grave mistake was a lightning bolt in the sky. I started observing such reactions among my close friends and family. I randomly asked them how they would feel if they notice a married girl/boy post a single pic of themselves in their Social networking handle. There were hardly a few who asked me 'Is that even a question!'. Back in the day, during my mom's and my grand mom's days it was a must that married women always sport the Sindhoor and I guess this is a new norm. Probably one pacifying factor could be that the new norm is gender neutral.
Nevertheless, the sheer joy that we derive in building up our own imagination and stories, when things aren't the way it is 'supposed' to be is priceless! I am sure X did a mental somersault when A added more spice to the conversation.
The unfathomable news that I keep reading about off late is on Mob lynching based on Whatsapp forwards. While we are arguing about how to curb the use of social media in spreading such false messages, am left to wonder why isn't anyone arguing about where Humanity is? Since when did we Humans turn on the beast mode that we started believing violence is the only source of outcome? I have still not gone a day without a news of a sexual assault on a child- irrespective of the gender. I am not surprised that Television shows like 'Big boss' are turning out to be a huge hit. Our addiction to Social networks has reached a peak that we forget we are that Indian neighbor aunt who always knows what is happening at your home. Atleast the Indian neighbor aunt was keeping an eye only on one family unlike us who has access to 1k accounts. That's the average number of Social networking friends a person has.
There are enough scientists researching about this Social Networking addiction. Why don't we take a pause and think about what actually gives us happiness than projecting an image for the society? Maybe, stop wondering what is wrong with someone when they don't post happy couple pictures. Start thinking what is that I need for my own self than trying to satisfy the self focused society standards. And that reminds me, my DP on my Whatsapp isn't with my husband either. oops!
Vive!
Me Myself :)
I think the era of socia media networking is reducing but yes, still a far way to go and my dp is also not with husband 😅
ReplyDeleteAlarmingly it is not. There are newer ways popping up. May be Facebook is going down but there are so many others that are mushrooming. And welcome to the club on DP :)
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