It’s been a while since I stopped watching news on TV, firstly because of my schedule secondly it makes me depressed. However, sadly, I still don’t miss important news as the social media is here for updates. Like the Sahiwal incident, my news feed on FaceBook was flooded with images of the deceased in the car, and the survivors. Seeing those innocent traumatized young kids, broke my heart. Who is going to teach ethics and responsible journalism? Interviewing those kids right after they saw their parents massacred, is it even allowed legally? The bystanders making videos of the deceased’s highly graphic images and uploading them on social media, don’t we even have respect for dead bodies anymore?
The most disturbing fact is the controversies that start emerging, making reality seem like a Star Plus Indian Soap Opera filled with accusations and lies. What is even more disturbing is the dispensing of sensitive classified information freely without any authentication, we have cyber security wings why don’t we trace these people that are spreading rumors and spreading disappointments and insecurities. It makes the common people skeptical of what actually is the truth and whom to trust. What perturbs me is that why do we have a voracious appetite for drama and controversies?
The most disturbing fact is the controversies that start emerging, making reality seem like a Star Plus Indian Soap Opera filled with accusations and lies. What is even more disturbing is the dispensing of sensitive classified information freely without any authentication, we have cyber security wings why don’t we trace these people that are spreading false rumors and spreading disappointments and insecurities. It makes the common people skeptical of what actually is the truth and whom to trust. What perturbs me is that why do we have a voracious appetite for drama and controversies? A sad very unfortunate incident happened why turn it into a media circus, especially on social media? Why does everyone want to join the bandwagon without bothering to look for facts or start sharing controversial angles of the story on social media. As grave as the insensitivity of the Sahiwal incident is, it also disturbs me to see how people react to twisted fake news on social media and before you know it your news feed is full of nonsense. Thus, you automatically become a victim of misinformation.
Spreading negativity and politicizing every incident seems to be a favorite pastime of people these days, and passive aggressive wars are seen on social media among acquaintances secretly pursuing their political party agendas or defending it. We really need to reflect upon our reactions in spreading news or reacting to it, are we blowing things out of proportion? I think we should have a mass media training on responsible use of social media to analyze things logically and on merit, rather than finding drama and deriving some sort of sadistic pleasure from it.
And as for the poor souls that survived the Sahiwal incident, those poor kids need professional counselling to bear that loss, there should be some counsellor that should be assigned to protect their right of privacy their world has fallen apart, please let them mourn in peace, this is the least we can do.
The writer is a trainer and research consultant
Published in Daily Times, February 6th 2019.