This Post was also published on Huffington Post India here: A Call for Compassion on Social Media
Recently, this story was avidly shared on twitter showing us how some of us can run away with the freedom that social media platforms now provide us.
How One Stupid Tweet Blew Up Justine Sacco’s Life
While, social media can lead to revolutions and facilitate massive community outreach programs, it can also cause people to go into depression, feel hounded and passed judgment upon, lose their jobs and lose their lives as well. Scary, isn’t it?
As someone who has been blogging for close to 7 years now and has been an active participant on Facebook less so on twitter, I am beginning to recognize some of the pitfalls of social media myself. While I have found people and groups that I can really connect with who are kind and generous. Sometimes it is these same people who can jolt me with their pettiness or lack of compassion. I wonder what brings out this inner narcissist in us that will do just about anything for a few likes, comments and shares.
Whether it is family or friends, parents or singles, heads of state or celebrities, no one is safe from the ire of the social media aficionados. Haranguing, name calling, harassing and humiliating all goes under the guise of freedom of speech. While our blogs give us the power to lay out one-sided versions of our stories to the world, we often forget that the targets of our ire are living breathing human beings just like us who have families and friends. Do their misdemeanors (perceived) really demand such big punishments that we hound them mercilessly? Is it time for all of us to pause for a second and be a little more courteous and compassionate in our interactions.
Personally, I find family a sobering influence. The fact that my son reads my blogs or that my husband is on Facebook always makes me think twice before posting or sharing something.
While the urge to hit out at every issue is strong and God knows we all have done that, I think the willpower to take that step back is even more important. Every time when I want to strike out, I recall that for every person that gets on my nerves, there are many others who have jumped to my defense or offered me a shoulder to cry upon no matter how small my misery.
Today, I find myself standing at the crossroads wondering if I really need to be that connected, that bombarded by a community that rarely displays compassion for other fellow beings. Emails, tweets, status updates, blogs are all filled with anger, rants, and venting out. Some of them use offensive language and really are out there to provoke.
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Social media has given all of us a voice, a method by which we can also make a difference. The compassion that we need to embrace is to not misuse that power. Use your reach, your followers for sharing tales of distress, of hope, of happiness instead of having your two seconds of fame by slinging mud or laughing at someone else’s expense.
Today, on 20th February, 2015, 1000 Voices around the world are speaking out to practice compassion in every sphere of life.
Every time you write something really harsh or vitriolic, think for once if you would be able to say the same to the person to their face.
If not, why put it up in black and white. Remember written word cannot be erased and neither can be erased the wounds that it leaves behind in the hearts of those afflicted by their injuries.
Let us all try to practice compassion towards ourselves and towards the fellow human beings. Let us use social media wisely and responsibly.
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