Posting biased opinion on issues: A misuse of social networking sites

Ujjaini Sharma

Social networking sites play a great role in connecting the youths and masses to the world are where individual views and comments can bring changes on sensitive and relevant issues that needs attention of the world at large. The Syrian refugee crisis is the best example to prove that through social sites, people all over the world were awakened by the plight of the refugees in Syria through a heart-rendering picture of a dead child lying down on the beach, which shows how we have connected ourselves to such sites, which are now an important part of our lives.

Is it right to say that social  networking sites should be made our way of life when it is killing the age-old social interactions between individuals and groups on issues that needed to be discussed on a wider platform? Adda or social gatherings were an eye catcher where people gathered to have social meetings to exchange their views and criticize various socially and politically relevant matters. But surprisingly these social gatherings are now called on these social networking sites where individuals form their views through tweets or comments. Tweets or comments very often come unnecessarily because statuses are written with little or no knowledge of the particular incident. To be more precise, sometimes sensitive issues need to be left out to be discussed on wider platforms because most often certain off the record comments or status may create repercussions that may over-sensitize the particular incident. Most often, we tend to see political statements being made by certain sections that prove their party affiliation by indicating the negativity of their views towards the other parties. Criticism of individuals or organizations should be healthy so as not to tarnish the person or organization’s reputation, unless needed for.  Social networking sites must be rather used as a medium to collect referendum on subjects like the recent Dadri incident, to gather tweets or likes against polarization of religion-based politics that has shocked the world at large. No doubt, efforts are being made by many political parties to reach out to the masses and the youths at large but such moves may at one point jeopardize the overall process of democracy as still a large section is uware of the existence of such socially relevant medium of communication which have brought the people under one umbrella to remain connected with each other.

Surprisingly, we are so involved in uploading photographs and posting statuses, we tend to neglect the presence of unhealthy debates and discussions that sometimes turn to be biased in ture as more often they are deliberately posted to show detestation towards a party or individual which is mostly unwelcome on such social sites. Lack of intellect or knowledge of understanding the idea of what actually defines social sites, brings to the forefront how we sometimes misuse such platforms by converting them into a pitch where games are played to counter specific groups or persons. The core essence of  such sites lies in bringing together distant friends or individuals together or in finding someone’s long lost companion or kin as each of us have become a part of this social circle to remain connected to our loved ones. Sadly, we have devalued our presence in such platforms by engrossing ourselves in making statements that doesn’t even reach the groups whom we are appeasing or are trying to disclaim.

Every medium of communication has its negative and positive sides, but it lies upon us to judge how we should make use of such media for our betterment or rather create platforms for hateful attacks and comments on individuals or groups. Usually we follow tweets or like a page which helps us to remain updated for news or views on varied number of topics.  Yet, some individuals try to paint such sites into a socio- political medium that concentrates mainly on what or how groups or individuals have done for the society at large.

Is it not wrong to post hateful comments on social networking sites when such media were created for social interactions? The answer lies within us as we must try not to politicize or commulize ourselves or our views on social networking sites, when other platforms are wide open to place our opinions. Favoritism of parties on social sites may generate pointless arguments that may not go down well with majority of the masses.