Dr Asangba Tzudir
Social media is a powerful tool to connect, express, interact, and create. However, it is the way and the objective for which social media is largely used that becomes dangerous and which remains a serious concern especially for youngsters. For youngsters and even the not so young, platforms like Wats App, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok are not just mere arenas for interaction but a space where they seek validation, recognition and popularity and which increasingly becomes the defining parameter of their self-worthiness. While social media 'popularity' may appear to be harmless, the use and obsessive pursuit of likes, messages in accord, followers and viral fame carries serious dangers that should not be ignored.
At the heart of the problem lies an illusion, a popularity that masks success, and where popularity is equated with success. In the process of growth which leads to development of values and the larger identity, young minds are often led to believe that online visibility and presence through various forms and expressions is a yardstick of personal worth. It is this misconstrued belief that fuels unhealthy comparison. In the social media world, its not the candid photos but carefully curated images coupled with exaggerated lifestyles which are considered private have now come to define unrealistic standards of beauty, happiness and popularity. When youngsters fall short of these glorified ideals, the result is anxiety, low self-esteem, depression and mental health struggles, particularly among adolescents.
The race for online attention also encourages risky and irresponsible behaviour and especially where normal is considered boring. In the quest to go viral, some youngsters engage in stunts which can be risky or offensive content creation or trends which can be morally questionable. What begins as a desire for recognition and social popularity can quickly escalate into harm, including legal trouble where one's reputation is at stake.
Another worrying factor is the erosion of authenticity. When popularity becomes the end objective, individuality is often sacrificed. Youngsters may unknowingly suppress their true beliefs, talents or cultural values and bow to social media trends and values. It is not just an act with the screen but a constant performance for an unseen audience that simply reduces life to such a spectacle, a shareable experiences that comes to be valued in the social media world. Over time, the very meaning of relationships gets distorted and even turns friendships into some metrics, and normal conversations curated in tune with trending social media content.
Social media popularity also fosters some sort of addiction. The pleasure derived from likes and comments creates a cycle of dependency. Young users repeatedly check their phones, seeking validation, often at the cost of academic focus, physical activity and real-world interaction. Logging out from social media can create such a void, injecting thoughts of what is being missed or what's happening. Such an addiction can not only have a telling impact on productivity but also weakens attention spans and free thinking abilities.
Today, a decline in thirst for academic learning is greatly seen among youngsters and which is a negative impact of technology and social media. The responsibility for addressing this issue does not rest solely on youngsters especially the whole lot who are already addicted. While it calls for parents, educators, policymakers and tech. companies including app developers to play responsible roles, digital literacy becomes paramount. Parents and educators should also teach young people to distinguish between online illusion and reality. Open conversations and sincere dialogue about mental health issues, imagining self-worthiness, creating content responsibly and sharing are very essential. The screen interaction can easily get one blinded in such a way that one becomes unmindful of the larger audience and its consequences.
In this age of technology, we have to learn to use it wisely. The danger arises when popularity becomes an obsession rather than a by-product of meaningful engagement. Let it be reminded that true value does not lie in follower counts or the way in which it goes viral, but in its character. True recognition and popularity, unlike online fame, is built slowly and differently and which lasts far longer than a trending post.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial for The Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
