Misuse of social media

With the advent of social media platforms- Facebook, WhatsApp, Instragram, Twitter etc, the world of instant communication has become part of daily life. Social media today has already taken the world by storm and helped transform every facet of instant human communication. Social media links people across the world within an instant. Indeed social media platforms today touch almost every aspect of life worldwide. Most people who have nothing do or who don’t want to do anything in life do it on social media. They are totally addicted to social media and spend hours on end twitting or posting photos, voice messages or video clips. All these for free and instantly so no wonder people across the globe prefer social media platforms to communicate. However with the good also comes the bad. Social media can be likened to a SUV that is supposed to bring joy. However when the SUV is driven by an irresponsible drive, it can also bring grief. Social media likewise is being widely misused by users. Today, misuse of social media is like a virus that has gone out of control. The rising number of those indulging in character assassination by posting fake photos, writing half truths and comments has unfortunately grown.The brazenness of such users has only grown because of lack supervision by those global social media giants. These companies that run these social media platforms seem project they are incapable of controlling the powerful global tools they have built. These global giants are responsible for the toxic digital waste of misinformation that floods these platforms. When the world has recognised and accepted the reach and utility of social media, it is only right that they will have to fall in line with other legalised and registered media outlets. In this regard, the Western Sumi Hoho (WSH) and the Dimapur Police Commissionerate have taken a significant step in issuing strong warning to those who use social media platform to harass, hound and defame individuals or attempt to spark communal tension. The WSH has recognised how a useful tool, like a knife used in kitchens ,could be misused to injure people. Psychologists have also recognised the behavioural patterns of social media abusers as being unstable, lonely, highly opinionated, egoistic, narcissistic and driven to despair or even exhibiting suicidal tendencies. Today the pandemic virus in social media platforms is fake news and videos that inflame and incite people. Terrorists have also been abusing social media to the hilt and have posted clips of their brutal actions across the globe. Owing to the threat from social media because it is uncontrolled by the developers and too large for authorities to monitor, the Sri Lanka government last year decided to shut down access to Facebook, WhatsApp over fear of false reports. The police will have to do more than issue warning against abuse of social media. Even tribal bodies like WSH will do well to get other apex tribe organisations on board to tackle this dangerous menace posed by disturbed and demented minds. Even use of indigenous tribal names have to be taken into account to prevent platforms from being used to throw dirt. Such persons need to be taught a lesson to prevent technology from being turned into cesspits of demented minds.