Opinion: Social media a potent weapon, must be used responsibly in times when fake news is prevalent

Penguins have a peculiar practice forced by nature. They have to keep the eggs under their feet providing the warmth for incubation. Even if the egg slips out they again bring it under their feet with the sole purpose of providing warmth nurturing it during the incubation period before the egg can hatch.

The penguin predicament of having to keep the egg under the feet is what we find ourselves in when we see the obsession with any news that floats around in social media. We do not want to let go, we keep incubating by mindless forwards to multiple contacts.

Recently, a lengthy message was being circulated on social media of alleged harassment by a couple of transgenders in a MRTS railway station in Chennai. The message gave graphic details of the victim being disrobed in public and what more when the victim rushed to the restroom for cover there was another victim, almost naked, having suffered similar humiliation perpetrated by the same aggressors. On the face of it the message sounded rather far-fetched but since the alarm was sounded, the police had to investigate the matter. The probe, however, reached a dead end as the victims, if at all there was one, never surfaced.

The message even alleged that the transgenders had covered CCTV cameras in the area to escape being caught.

This message was promptly forwarded by a lot of people and became what is referred in social media parlance a ‘viral message’. The sad part is everyone who forwarded the message had no doubt in their mind about the veracity of the content. Psychoanalysis of this mindset would also mean they wanted, even hoped the incident to be ‘true’. Welcome to the world of fantasy in internet! There was another such viral message where someone announced that a young couple had died in an accident, that their vital organs have been donated and those interested can contact the concerned to get the organs for transplant. Even if accident part is true there is an established procedure before an organ which is donated can be allotted for transplant. Patients requiring organ transplant have to register online and a committee scrutinises the requests in proper order and accordingly, a decision is taken. Hence, such messages announcing availability of organs for transplant is just a scam to say the least. But, social media groups mindlessly share such messages without even giving a second thought.

Problem of beggars, physically challenged persons,transgenders harassing commuters in busy thoroughfares for charity is a challenge for administrators in all major cities.

In New York city when Rudolph Giuliani took over as Mayor he was apprised of the problem of panhandlers and ‘squeegees’ at traffic intersections who were harassing the motorists in the guise of cleaning the windscreen and demanding money, sometimes indulging in violence. With Bill Bratton as Commissioner of Police this problem was effectively tackled and the harassment by beggars and those pretending to clean the cars was put an end to,much to the relief of motorists.

Transgenders have lot of livelihood problems which they face everyday. Society views them with suspicion. They do not get place to stay nor jobs and they take the easy route of begging or become sex workers. Thanks to the supreme court ruling section 377 of IPC has been de- criminalised but the problem of acceptance by society continues.

Many petty businessmen and shop keepers consider it a good omen when transgenders visit their shop before first sale. This practice is prevalent in Mumbai, Delhi and many cities in North India and to a certain extent in south also. We see transgenders visiting shops early morning when the shop opens and get money. Sometimes it becomes a demand. In the process harassment of passers by cannot be ruled out.

However the social media forward about the alleged incident of assault by transgenders has been thoroughly verified by the police and found to be false . Nevertheless Police have mounted special surveillance squads to prevent any such incident.

It is unfortunate that people blindly believe whatever they receive as forwarded message and form opinions based on such half truths and canards spread in various watsup groups. Many eminent persons even quote such information as gospel truth when they share their thoughts in public platform!

Social media triggered the Arab spring riots in 2010 which began with protests in Tunisia and spread to other countries against oppressive regimes .

The London and Birmingham riots in 2011 which initially started as a protest against death of suspect in Police custody spread and took a violent turn. Shops were looted and mob indulged in arson and destruction. Investigation by police revealed that the rioters were instigated by free messages through BlackBerry mobiles and Black berry Messenger which had 37 per cent of teenage mobile market.

Social media is a potent weapon but has caught the imagination of the people and has come to stay. We always believe and hope that good will prevail over evil but we are for ever consumed by fear. Ohio University in US conducted a research on impact of good and bad. Professor Baumister who conducted the research found that Bad is five times stronger than the good. Humans are genetically tuned to react to bad events first, always ready to perceive danger but take good in their stride. That explains why any message of danger or caution we do not think a second before reacting to it and acting on it even without proper verification. If good has to prevail it has to be five times stronger than the “bad”.

The good old adage ‘God is in details’ is time and again proved. Let us go into detail verify, apply the litmus test before we react to the social media messages and posts.