Thursday, September 23, 2010

Social Networking Sites - a sham or an ingenuity?


Their reign over the web is undisputable! They have redefined the meaning of 'social identity'. If u and ur pics, scraps. videos n wat all u can imagine uploading, aren't there, ur existence in this world would be a farce! From the status of ur relationships to the last click of ur camera, u got to put up everything for everyone to see, which means unless u r often online, u miss the bus! No wonder, so many of us suffer from post-modem depression! Now that's somethin u develp wen u find urslf unable to access the internet for a considerable time period ( it differs from hours to days). Many out there would actually argue for these sites, stating that it helps them stay connected to their pals and to know about the happenings in each other's lives. Truly appreciable stuff and this was the very motive why Mark Zuckerberg & others developedthese sites. (In fact,the guy Orkut, set up the site to find his lost girlfriend and it actually helped him trace her!)But as we are becoming more vulnerable to the utilities of these sites, few of us are actually toeing the thin line separating a socialite from an exhibitionist! Everyhin under the sky has its good & bad side but it's imperative to maintain that balance. Introspection should be of prime concern here. Sending a message or a written note to someone has always had a greater impact , we must make sure we dont make a comment while thinking through that veil of vanity & braggery. While in public scrutiny, one needs to exercise some restraint on emotions....after all as tha sayin goes- admonish in ur frnd in private while praise him in public!


While we may have countless frnds in that virtual list n only gettin added with each day, expectin each of them to undestand and feel our real situation would b foolish. In the process of such parochial thinking, there is every chance of losing those real frnds, neare to us in the real world. No wonder why so many suffer from depressions of being lonely. Are some of us trying to find solace by interacting with this virtual world? Or is it partly because its an easy way of establishing a fake in the guise of artificial poses, which scream of duplicacy?


On the flipside, a lot of good things can be achieved via these sites. The way they link us to the world happenings, disasters, etc are unparalleled. Good social deeds can be materialised and opinions can be exchanged transcending borders. Join NGOs, mobilise people, remove misconceptions, spread awareness, urge sustainibility for the surroundings, arrange a poll or quiz to generate funds, donation programmes etc - the list is endless if only we will. But the question remains as to how many of us actually think of such innovative ways to contribute to our social responsibility cause? Being busy uploading mundane pics, songs etc. is one thing while standing apart from the crowd while inspiring the rest is another. We really need to grow up from futile aspirations and do something constructive in our own small way for this country, towards which we only export criticism. This way the image of the sites we are members of, would also reflect the contributions, of which everyone would be proud of! So, happy tweeting....

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