PANAJI
When social media makes it to the news, it's usually in a bad way. If it's doing things right, you won't catch it in the headlines. So, is there something badly wrong with the social media? Is it jinxed and all set to cross the wrong paths, to cause problems, to do more harm than good?
The case against the social media is basically this: it has grown too fast, and has become too accessible. Just about anyone can reach to hundreds or thousand with a single post.
This means that the social media can also be easily misused. This is quite unlike the case of professional journalists, who often have years of training, and quite a bit of oversight in their work, both of which are missing in the social media.
If you visit Facebook (particularly), and Twitter or Instagram (to lesser extents), you'll quickly find proof of this. A few days ago, I sat stunned watching through a 40-odd minute video. In it, one of the new breed of female 'activists' from Goa was cursing another. She was talking about her character, relationships, sex life, and what not.
How does this form part of the public discourse? What interest is it to the common citizen? Why should we at all be bothered about it? What makes people take such stands? Is it not defamatory?
Now in the news is the case of Shreya Dhargalkar, whose high-profile stands have attracted eyeballs in recent times. Some argue that the social media platforms are mostly made in a way that these draw maximum attention and viewers. Sensationalism sells.
Without prejudging the case, one could point out here that technology and lower costs have indeed lowered access-barriers sharply. When so many people can say just what they feel like online, some of the things they say is bound to affect, or upset, us. We may not like the way these 'new players' put across their point.
Dhargalkar's recordings were available online at the time of writing. Some were being circulated in public groups. In one of these, which has provoked controversy and complaints to the police, she has made comments about mahajans in Fatorpa.
When bits and pieces of a video are shared by its detractors in public, it can create a wrong impression. Let us remember that a huge ruckus recently about Fr (Dr) Bolmax Pereira's comments on the Maratha emperor Shivaji. I personally rate Bolmax among the most articulate generation of young priests in Goa, and a well-studied one at that.
After days of protest and news-headlines, and many weeks later, the Goa high court bench quashed the FIR against the Chicalim parish priest. He was facing charges under Sec 295 of the IPC for allegedly defiling a place of worship and under Sec 504 for intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace.
When his comments were seen in context, it is hard to see what was wrong with the comments he sought to make.
Dhargalkar critiqued some temple committee matters over a property matter.
Can it be also argued that a certain over-sensitivity has grown in recent times? Is the law used as stringently in all cases?
Yes, technology allows for a greater diversity of views, including views which sometimes offends us. We need to find better ways to deal with this. Goa is part of a larger nationwide trend where such actions have been taken.
Social media has its pros and cons. We've seen fake photos and fake news cause needless suspicion and trouble. Some keep cynically (intentionally or after being conned themselves) sharing untrue posts -- have you heard of the NGO Prerana "supported by Infosys" that financially helps poor students -- sorry, that's a fake!)
Politicians have sometimes accused each other of spreading "fake news", in Goa too. We've heard of fake call centres, and even logos of prominent news organisation have been misused to spread fake news that the "janata curfew" was being extended from April to June 2020!
Yet, the social media has the potential for sharply positive initiatives too. It educates, spreads information, creates initiatives.
There are dozens of positive initiatives -- from car-pooling to musicians' networks, jobseekers' connects, businessmen's networks, bookshops (including second-hand recycled books) online, networks of language communities and poetry enthusiasts, environmental networks and plant-swap groups, online prayer groups, and even our village bar "alumni" network. This is just a small selection of what others are doing in Goa today.
Social media is like the metaphorical knife -- it can be used to hurt or to heal, to kill or to cook. Responsible speech needs to go hand-in-hand with free speech. At the same time, the authorities should not over-react each time an organised group of protesters demand action.
(The writer has been the co-founder of BytesForAll, a not-for-profit, unfunded and volunteer initiative, active between 1999 and 2007 that focussed on how the Internet and IT could promote social development)
