Social Media has enslaved almost every person on the planet. From Uncles who send "good morning" on WhatsApp to the sassy teens on Instagram, everyone is quite proactive on social media platforms.
In this Covid-19 era, due to people having lots of free time, social media has been in the limelight for the past few months. From people showing off their hidden talents, to people helping the needy, and from people raising voices against oppression to folks spreading hatred and toxicity. Social media has been the centerstage of all the drama going on in the world.
For the last few months, the Indian social media has been abuzz with a lot of sensitive topics (Mental Health, Nepotism, Favouritism, etc). But, the way the masses have reacted, has forced the big brains to raise their voices against the diabolical nature of social media. But, if you ask me, its not really because of social media. After all its just a platform where people from all walks of life are free to express their thoughts and their feelings. Right from those who eat tiramisu in a Michelin star restaurant to those eating tadka dal in a roadside "Dhaba", everyone gets equal say here. The real problem is, that people end up going with the flow, not really thinking about the matter on their own.
Never mind, talking of dhabas, the latest feat which the millennials use to save social media from the wrath of Gen-X is the "Baba ka Dhaba". For those of you who don't really know what this is, "Baba ka Dhaba" is a small eatery in Malviya Nagar, Delhi. Run by a couple, living in the early years of the ninth decade of their lives. Business had not really flourished in the post-lockdown era for this eating joint. Then one fine morning, a food-vlogger arrives as a messiah to change the fate of this couple. That one video, praising the "Mutter Paneer" gains attention of many influencers across the internet, and help starts pouring in from all directions. And now, "Baba ka dhaba" is the most happening thing in whole of Malviya Nagar, there's a crowd at all times, looking for an angle to get the best selfie, there are companies offering sponsorship to run the eatery and of course the media personnel interviewing the couple.
YES! Social media does change lives of people overnight. And yes, these people have real talent and really deserve everything. But does every talented person get what they deserve. Social media fame is a lot of luck thing apart from real talent. Obviously, there are just a handful of people who are able to escape their plight and get help. There are scores of others, still waiting for their cards to turn. This became quite evident when lockdown was imposed. Lakhs of people came to the street. No matter how many received help from people like Sonu Sood, there are still many struggling real hard to make their ends meet. Help cannot reach everyone who needs it, unless and until, each one of us comes up to support them, not for the sake of gaining social media praise, but for the sake of helping.
Social media can help you do wonders. It all depends on how you choose to use it. Its just a tool. The sooner we realise this fact, the better it will be. Trolling people and then raising voices for mental health, does nothing but show the hypocritical nature. The crowd outside "Baba ka Dhaba" and the flies buzzing over the small biryani stall not even 10 metres away, shows that social media fame is more important than really helping people. A major change in our mindsets is really necessary, to bring about an impactful change.
THINK!