Daily Times

Politics, politics and politics. Let us spare some time for something else, the thing that affects all of us but we are not ready to talk about it, or are we more dedicated to politics? How do social networks affect true and sincere relationships? Technological development and the widespread use of internet-based technologies have changed the regular mode of communication. Traditionally, communication was done through the exchange of letters and limited telecommunication in the form of telephones. Now, internet technology has paved the way for the development of social networking websites and applications like Facebook and Twitter, besides the mushrooming of online dating websites. The traditional mode of communication built true and sincere relationships as evidenced from the folk stories of Heer Ranjha, Sassi Pannu, Laila Majnun and Mirza Sahiba. The feelings of respect, care and love, besides being honest, were very significant elements of this true relationship.

Relationships carried themselves in an honest and respectful manner. At the individual level, the relationship between human beings was considered very precious, and the feeling of losing one’s beloved was very strong. However, modern day communication via social networks has put an end to the once considered ‘true’ relationship. Modern networks have changed the way relationships were carried forward in the past. Now, an individual connects to the world through the internet, which has enabled him to communicate with individuals even from other parts of the world. This means that relations have become more indirect and digitalised, thereby putting an end to true and sincere relationships where direct communication was once very important.

The relationship of love has always been present in society. Before modern day communication, the meaning of love was taken in the sense of caring for your beloved and standing by their side even at the most difficult of times. It was difficult for lovers to keep their distance, and every sacrifice was given to attain love. Such love is found in the Punjabi folktale of Heer Ranjha where both Heer and Ranjha sacrificed their lives for the love they had for each other. Now, such love just does not exist in society.

Social networks provide easy access to communication, changing the meaning of love. A person can add anyone from the opposite gender by looking at his/her profile picture on Facebook. On the basis of pictures, relationships are started. In most cases, only a few chats between individuals develop feelings of ‘love’ that, in reality, are only an infatuation. Even the sacredness of the words ‘I love you’ has been reduced. In some cases, a person is not even sure of whether the other person is really in love or only pretending. According to reports, female suicide rates have increased because they are betrayed on social networks.

The development of video conversations has made it possible for couples to not only chat, but also have real-time conversations through their cameras. This has further destroyed the concept of true relationships. In the recent past, it has been observed, particularly in the west, that couples who use the video chat option on Facebook or Skype partake in conversations of a more intimate nature. Relationships carried out on social networks are not true relationships like the one seen in Heer Ranjha but they become the means to satisfy sexual lust.

Even the political arena is not unaffected by the recent use of social media. Now the followers of political parties simply ‘like’ the Facebook page of their leaders to show their support and dedication. However, when it is time to show real support on the ground, mostly prefer remaining in their homes, signing in on Facebook and sharing the statuses of their leaders who want them on the ground, and not on the virtual highways. Let us go back to August 14, 2014 and the PTI’s call for a long march. And let us compare the followers of the party on Facebook and count the people who took to the streets for their leader. There was a big difference. That was not the case in the times of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. After a single call, his followers would come out and fill the streets to show their support, real support. Political relations are also affected by the use of social networks. In a nutshell, digitalised relationships can hardly be true and sincere. Let us dream for the love Heer and Ranjha had for each other.

The writer is a political scientist based in Islamabad. He tweets @hassanshahjehan