Understanding social media
- Imphal Times Editorial :: October 27 2020 -

A kitchen knife becomes the dangerous weapon if it is used to kill someone.

But everybody knows that in today’s modern world we can’t live without kitchen knife we eat to live and for that it is next to impossible for someone to cook without cutting the vegetable.

Similar is with the technology, it does no harm as long as it is used for better live and living.

The invention of social media with the advancement in internet technology has brought the people across the world too close to each other no matter where they settled at any part of the world.

During these Pandemic time where people are advised to maintain social distancing the technology is helping the world.

The technology has done too good for the people of this planet but there are also time that people think this technology as a curse rather than a boon.

Like the kitchen knife, the social media tools too become the most dangerous weapon if misused with bad intention.

However, unlike the kitchen knife what’s good in the social media is that they can be contained without harming anyone.

India officially banned TikTok along with various apparatus in the backdrop of tension with Chinese counterpart.

The banned is being justified by many as these are the Chinese app that is invading the Indian either to incite hate or to suck money.

Some people however criticized the banned as it damaged the reputation of the state amongst tech investors.

One can disagree that the app promotes vulgarity but the content at large being produced by its users in the country is unproductive to a great extent.

However, that was the case with other renowned social media platforms as well but acceptability came in light of the fact that without such platforms, life is incomplete now.

For instance, YouTube was initially simply considered a waste of time usually by people supporting old-fashion thinking.

Same as with other social media platforms which were highly discouraged by people worldwide for spoiling the precious time of the youth and corrupting their mentality.

Now, the platform is helping people transform their lives through a multitude of ways.

One can acquire skills from its content, enhance knowledge base, view entertaining videos, and, above all, make plenty of money through content production.

There are still lots of issues emerging everyday on this platform but our government does not ban it anymore.

What it does is sort out its issues through an understanding with the administration of social media platforms.

This is the appropriate way to handle the situation; it becomes a win-win situation for the government, masses and definitely for YouTube which retains user viewership.

There are many other social media platforms for networking, micro-blogging and video-sharing that are now contributing significantly to the economy of the country, creating employment opportunities, boosting businesses volumes, and promoting investments.

Yet, a significant portion of the content is still unproductive.

It is time that the government spell out a policy that defines the rules of business for these social media users through apps like Youtube or opening of a website and its users comprehensively.

In this regard, educating the masses is the foremost responsibility for the state, not for the purpose of using the app productively but for the improvement of the socio-economic status of the masses at large.

The government could chalk out user guidelines for the population as part of awareness regarding the use of the apps.

The ‘Dos and Don’ts’ should be spelled out clearly so that they are in accordance with the constitution, culture and religious values of the country.

Regulations should be rolled out for the apps so that they can help the authorities in controlling the unscrupulous, criminal and anti-social behaviours in society.

And last but not least, a speedy system of justice could be set up that would punish users who exploit the social media platform to harm people and society.

The internet is not a luxury and has become a necessity of life to a great extent.

It is certainly the right of the government, as the representative of the people, to make decisions for their betterment and prosperity but the authorities concerned should realise that things could be sorted out in an appropriate way rather than through a blanket ban policy.

A good and smart strategy for social media is much needed not only for the masses and the companies but for the economy and image of the country as well.