Introduction

This is an era dominated by social media. It serves as an omnipresent platform for expression, connection, and information-sharing. It has transformed the landscape of digital content which is captivating as well as concerning. The allure of instant communication and global reach has propelled individuals and businesses into a realm where boundaries between personal and public spheres often blur. As this digital frontier evolves, concerns over the nature, impact, and ethical implications of content posted on social media have gained significant traction, prompting deeper reflections on the power and responsibility wielded by users in this virtual realm.

My experiences and observations:

As a concerned Indian citizen, I am visibly shaken by the quality of content posted on social media. After reading a couple of forwarded malicious messages on WhatsApp, I have decided to restrict my online presence on the popular social media platform to a bare minimum. Messages promoting a religion at the cost of humiliating or vilifying others, are detrimental to the secular structure of our democracy. How can we claim the tagline, ' Unity among diversity'? 

Secondly, people simply forward those messages which conform to their popular beliefs, displaying their level of intelligence. Logical reasoning has seriously taken a back seat. I sincerely request all my friends and family members not to bombard my inbox with messages that are politically or religiously biased. I prefer to remain neutral as I am not affiliated with any political party and respect every religion. 

Covid-19's invasion in our lives and the ensuing lockdown made internet accessible and mandatory for all school-going children. The schools had to conduct online classes in order to provide them with uninterrupted education. Tech-savvy children plus access to the internet without parental guidance is highly risky. We need to supervise them whenever they search for any information on Google. Because of their inquisitive nature, they might explore websites which are visually appealing but may have indecent or harmful content.  Teenagers are more prone to browse through videos related to sex. 

Unfortunately, under the guise of freedom of speech and expression, filmmakers, TV serial producers, and ad makers resort to sex and violence to unleash their creativity. I am not saying that people should stop watching adult or porn videos.  They need to do it in private and clear their browsing history. In fact, a couple of years ago, my nephew who was then a teenager opened a Facebook account. He was terrified and came to me and my husband to show the feed containing nude photos of men showing indecent gestures. I was also fairly new to FB and had no idea. Then, he closed the account and probably opened another one, several years later. 

I love reading jokes on Facebook, but I have no words to express my disgust when vulgar and obscene memes are publicly posted.  I feel like puking after seeing these kinds of memes. 

I wish to request the creators of these memes to post them on groups dedicated to adult or non-veg jokes, making them exclusive for members only. 

Censorship is essential, as spending time with family, while watching TV has become stressful. We can't even watch movies peacefully these days with our children around, as locking lips has become an integral part of many movies. 

We can't deny access to our smartphones to our children, because they need to search for information on Google for their school projects. They also watch YouTube videos for their DIY school projects or simply go through entertainment videos. According to the findings of Precise Advertiser Report: Kids published on television.com, 9 out of 10 kids enjoy watching YouTube videos. The immensely popular social media channel does its best to ensure that adult or porn content is out of reach for children and teenagers below 18. It's up to us to find out what they have been browsing in a subtle manner. Children are highly sensitive and might be offended easily if we keep hovering around them and instructing them on how to use the internet appropriately. 

We can pursue several options to sort out the concerns over the content posted on social media. First, we need to promote digital literacy and education programs aimed at enhancing critical thinking skills, thus, empowering users to navigate the online sphere responsibly.

Implementing stricter guidelines and robust moderation mechanisms within platforms can mitigate the spread of harmful content. Additionally, promoting transparency in algorithms and ensuring ethical practices in data usage can contribute to a healthier digital environment. 

Finally, fostering a culture of empathy, respect, and responsible sharing among users can significantly impact the quality and impact of content shared online.

Conclusion:

The evolving landscape of social media demands proactive measures and collaborative efforts to address the concerns surrounding online content. By prioritizing education, stricter guidelines, transparency, and cultivating a culture of responsible digital citizenship, we can foster a safer, more inclusive, and ethical online space for all users.

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