Social networking has since a very long time incited uproar in many, while it simultaneously also placated too. There is no doubt that every good thing, occasionally, also has to come with something bad. As much as it tossed growth of many careers and saved numerous people in the pandemic only by circulating information, it is no secret that it also provoked uproar in a couple too.
Many platforms like Facebook saw havoc both politically and religiously, inciting internal riots as well as external through several inflammatory content. It has insidiously spiked over the last few years, as hearsays simultaneously elevated. Many have already been subjected to riots, in the form of religious hatred – especially between different classes of humans.
The pandemic saw a dramatic upsurge of misinformation that spiralled across and over the internet, especially through social networking sites. It inculcated fear, dramatic influences, and hazardous thoughts in people. It first started when people on social media disseminated information regarding covid-19 and spread rumours, like inescapable death and growing misconception around vaccination. It quickly escalated and many faced untimely death only due to fright.
It is about time again that India, as much as other countries, are experiencing an upheaval they once did. Before Russian forces even began developing the battle, the online war already clogged the internet – acting as the spearhead of misinformation.
Surprisingly, social media was so concerned about how it’s services brought communal war that it permitted several dozen researchers to engage in an interview with users. The researchers conducted the interview only to discover that many inflammatory content revolved around the Muslim community, forcing them into unwanted conflict. “The hatred on Facebook is endless, it is becoming life-threatening and equally as scary”, a Muslim man from Mumbai recently quoted. However, many believe that it is the sole responsibility of social media platforms, like Facebook, to minimize similar issues – but, change often roots from the person themself.
In many areas, inside and outside India, the war against political views gave birth to undesirable turmoil. Many people fell trap to several deceptive charitable efforts, while others found authentic sites. For instance, many social media sites saw the emergence of fundraising campaigns that raised more than millions – especially recently, during the Russia-Ukraine conflict – but were taken down after it was found counterfeit. The concerned NGO claimed that it was real, but users from all over Facebook clarified it as spam. It is sad that many deceptive sites have shadowed the efforts of real ones.
Other than that, it has recently also created havoc amid humans from different countries. For instance, a recent video showed a man, probably from Russia itself, on his parachute – slowly flying down. Many reciprocated hatred against it, claiming that the man was on his mission of invasion. However, in reality, the video was dated from 2016.
There is no space of doubt that social networking sites fuel war in more than war between political agendas, as much as religious shrines. It is unfortunate that even before a riot begins, it is people around social media that fuels conflict.