Of Facebook, fekus and fake news

I belong to a generation which grew up and lived a lot of its productive life before social media started ruling our world. In fact, I was in my late fifties when I took my first step into social media (SM) by joining Facebook and Linkedin.

I do not regret this at all. For one, FB has helped me to connect with long lost cousins and uncles, friends I had in school and college, former colleagues and a large host of young folk who had the misfortune of having had part of their MBA education in my classroom. Social media has also allowed me to pursue some of my interests – I am a part of two groups devoted to Hindi film music and another which consists of fans of P G Wodehouse. It also enables me to connect regularly with a bunch of vicarious sportsmen like myself – those who hardly play any games or sports, but follow national and international sports in a variety of disciplines.

However, one subject I try my best to avoid scrupulously on SM is politics, especially Indian politics – though my resolve to do so gets tested seriously! Having been a Prof for the last two decades, I relish argument and discussion with the proviso that at the end, both parties should remain friends and expand their knowledge. Unfortunately, when strong feelings enter a discussion, accompanied by heat and sound, light and reason make a hurried exit.

By temperament and upbringing, I abhor abuse and violence, even of the verbal variety. SM warriors, on the other hand, are ready to wound, burn and slash for almost pointless objectives. A case in point: a young friend of mine ‘A’ recently made an impassioned FB post on the bestial Kathua gang-rape and murder. Another young friend ‘B’ made an equally impassioned comment, with a different perspective with the use of certain ‘facts’. I had read an article which claimed these ‘facts’ were doctored and mildly introduced this into the discussion and exited the battleground. Battleground indeed because another person unknown to me, ‘C’ joined issue with ‘B’ and the heated, often impolite debate still continues for three days! I have no stomach for such fights at this phase of life. Call me a coward if you want to, but I have severed connections earlier with at least fifty abusive elements at both ends of the political spectrum. It is much worse when specimens of my vintage get into the fray, because they add as seasoning, probable disappointments and bile of many decades of wasted lives!

 The abuse is not only meant for each other – it extends to the leaders of the opposing camp too. I personally hold that leaders should not be referred to as ‘fekus’, ‘pappus’ or chaiwallahs’ on SM, not only in the interests of polite discourse, but also to maintain respect for institutions and offices.  I am not even touching the nadir to which comments on newspaper or news channel websites descend, because the vileness and the vitriol I find there dumbfounds me.

A real casualty of social media is the need for truth and veracity. Photoshopping, distorted perspectives and palpably false news being purveyed with a view to make these viral for limited and vested ends is the latest cottage industry, rapidly burgeoning into a major communication strategy.

So what do we do with this animal called Social Media? Do we ignore it, let it grow untrammeled or regulate it. If the last option is chosen, who does it? These questions, at least at the present juncture, do not have clear-cut answers. The elephant is in the room, but we are still not sure whether to hope it goes away, whether to ride it and see where it goes or whether to use an ’ankush’ on it !

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