By – Merlyn Lamabam
In this contemporary world, digital platforms evolved as unofficial town halls, which became a space for multifaceted dialogues, extending beyond political sentiment but also for a broader variety of negotiations. Globalisation, indeed, amplified this phenomenon by establishing a platform for interconnectedness, engaging in a way that serves as an expression of collective moods by the people. Just like that, in today’s time when digital conversations travel faster than the newspapers, the exchange of information on social media can be a powerful tool to showcase raw, unfiltered snapshot of societal consciousness.
It’s unsurprising now that social media platforms functions as the first responders amid political and social turmoil, facilitating rapid circulation of information and narratives. This global pattern of digital circulation can also be seen vividly in regions like Manipur, revealing how social media enables rapid news sharing, emotional solidarity and alternative narratives often absent in mainstream coverage. As a coin has both the sides, the same goes for these shared information. With many factual, legitimate sources and information comes a wave of misinformation, misinterpreted, sensationalism and emotionally charged content, which often seem to misguide and distort public understanding and deepens existing divides.
Sensationalism often comes in the form of blinding reels, videos, shorts and overwrought headlines which prioritises virality over verification. Such content crafted to induce immediate emotional responses overshadows the emerging voices etched to speak the truth. As Dr. Amori Mikami, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, rightly observes:
“Cutting off social media might reduce some of the pressures young adults feel around presenting a curated image of themselves online. But, stopping social media might also deprive young adults of social connections with friends and family, leading to feelings of isolation.”
The goal should be to make use of the available and healthier form of engagement rather than mindlessly exploiting the shared digital space for validation and negativity. The recent years’ focus on algorithms rather than authenticity in many of the social media websites or applications evolved into making the space contested, making visibility as a criteria for engagement and worth. What used to be a place for birthday wishes or school reunions has now become a vital space for real-time updates, for emotional appeals and for solidarity during loss.
Online spaces become grounds where traditional hierarchies are not only preserved but often intensified under the guise of anonymity and decentralization. The viral spread of such content reveals how easily digital discourse can be co-opted to reinforce harmful ideologies under the cover of entertainment, humour, or “free speech.” Many users, including the youth and old, tend to engage with a trend of sharing and reacting with serious issues through memes, shorts and reels often without questioning the source or intent behind them. This neglect comes from a larger shift where monetisation has become a sensational feature of digital platforms, rewarding content not for its truth or ethical grounding, but for its capacity to provoke, entertain or go viral. Thus, the pursuit of likes, views, and income overrides the need for accuracy, empathy or responsibility.
Of course, the digital world is not without its risks. While it is true that social media serves as an “essential” public arena now, it is high time for users to mindfully engage with the content they consume. In an era where information spreads rapidly and narratives shape public perception, thoughtful and responsible participation is not optional, but is essential. The future of digital discourse depends not just on the platforms themselves, but on how we choose to use them.