What is it that has us speaking our minds on Social platforms?\u00a0 Be it a hilarious post on Facebook or a tweet that irked us\u00a0on Twitter, our first instinct is to react!\u00a0 Nothing wrong with that .. after all do we live in an era of Digital Democracy.\u00a0 But considering the recent spate of trolling & cyber bullying, don’t we need to draw a line somewhere?<\/p>\n
Here in India, last month, a social campaign did the rounds on Twitter, #SelfieWithDaughter.\u00a0 This was an attempt by our people\u2019s representative to promote yet another digital movement, an idea that originated\u00a0in a village in Haryana. \u00a0Though there was\u00a0wholehearted participation, did everyone really know the idea behind this initiative?<\/p>\n
According to the 2011 Census, there has been an alarming drop in the percentage of girls.\u00a0 For every 1000 boys the reports showed 914 girls!\u00a0 That\u2019s disturbing, right?\u00a0 But is this campaign really relevant to increasing awareness in rural areas? \u00a0Are people really that active on Social Media in those areas? \u00a0Moreover, in light of the other socio – economic troubles, how does all this tweeting translate the digital support in dealing with the\u00a0real struggles of a girl child or a woman?\u00a0 The stats plunge in certain rural areas and the girl child is left to fend off bitter customs by herself. \u00a0Coming back, closer to home, how does it help in correcting simple inequalities like\u00a0income parity to start off with!<\/p>\n
With celebs like #Amitabh Bachchan & Cricketing Gods like #Sachin Tendulkar amongst the netizens posting their #SelfieWithDaughter, giving this cause the Celeb Endorsement it needs, I believe\u00a0my reaction to this initiative was better left unsaid!<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, some people who stood to voice their opinions were left with a bitter taste in their mouth.\u00a0 Actress Shruti Sheth tweeted her reaction, but was left with no other alternative but to delete her opinion!\u00a0 Ironically the trolls did prove her point!\u00a0 Hurt, but not ready to give in to the digital bullying, she followed it up with an open letter which unfortunately was met with more sarcasm!\u00a0 Tsk!<\/p>\n
So what\u2019s the take away from an instance of this sort?\u00a0 Opinions are best left expressed amongst your friends and peers, especially when we are trying to move against the tide!\u00a0 Cowardly, some may say, but I refer to it as diplomacy!\u00a0 After all, what\u2019s the point in wasting your two cents on strangers who are not on a similar wavelength as you are, or who just don’t get you?<\/p>\n
This is a cynical society where we barely listen to others speak.\u00a0 The same unfortunately holds true for Social Media too.\u00a0 So rather than contribute to the unhealthy bullying culture, let\u2019s try to take a step back and try to understand what is the message being conveyed. \u00a0Unless it\u2019s directed to a loved one or you, let\u2019s just be civil! \u00a0Cut back on degrading anyone, their line of work or attacking their loved ones.\u00a0 Thats just plain rude and uncalled for .. at least in most circumstances! \u00a0Trust me when i say,\u00a0it’s absolutely worth being patient on public platforms rather than succumb to\u00a0impulse\u00a0and say the first thing that pops up on your mind!<\/p>\n
An idea, a word of encouragement, a line of acknowledgement and dissent, if any, expressed in a civil manner, these are some of the basic etiquettes that will help clean up the social platforms, and if all of us react sensibly instead of instinctively we are halfway there!<\/p>\n
But well, for ones who still cant resist the urge to give in to their primal instinct and exercise their Digital Democracy, Good Luck to You!\u00a0 After all, to each their own!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
What is it that has us speaking our minds on Social platforms?\u00a0 Be it a hilarious post on Facebook or a tweet that irked us\u00a0on Twitter, our first instinct is to react!\u00a0 Nothing wrong with that .. after all do we live in an era of Digital Democracy.\u00a0 But considering the recent spate of trolling […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":1457,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[375,10],"tags":[346,347,82],"class_list":["post-1305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-digital-experience","category-featured-stories","tag-etiquette","tag-social-campaign","tag-social-media"],"acf":{"heading_txt":"The Hypocrisy Of Digital Democracy","webp":"https:\/\/www.codelattice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ezgif.com-gif-maker-64.webp"},"yoast_head":"\n