This generation is one that is so technologically savvy that many have termed the era as the Facebook and twitter generation. Social media has given a new fillip to individual expression and empowerment. Not only has this medium been tapped for disseminating information quickly and efficiently, it has been used as tools of influence. Then of course we cannot overlook its usage in the pursuit of attaining a better livelihood.

When compared, the Cons of social media use may be less but they are enough nonetheless to create trouble ranging from mild to severe. Unmindful words and debates can often lead to distress and also fan social unrest. Social media is used at times for character assassination and defamation of individuals which is really in bad taste.

In all this, however, one aspect has managed to gain top attention and it is related to Citizen Journalism. Social media has made each one of us a journalist. Armed with a smartphone we are on a roll. Click, upload and things go viral. Topic related to public interests is most welcome but discretion must be practiced while faced with sensitive issues. It is indeed sad to see photographs of accident victims, deceased people over social media. And to think of it, many such posts get huge ‘Likes’. How insensitive can we get?

Social media users must understand that these images actually are of individuals who have families. Imagine what the aggrieved family must feel when they are bombarded by such images and have to relive the ordeal time and again.

To be fair, it is not just social media users who are guilty. The stiff competition for ratings among print and electronic media has also seen growing insensitivity in such cases. Assam’s 24x7 news channels are probably the worst of the lot. This scribe has witnessed many visuals when cameras literally zoomed and hovered to show lacerations on victim’s throats etc. It is sad to see what we have been reduced to!

An image of former MLA, late Ngurang Pinch slouched over a raft soon after police recovered his body has been going viral on social media since Saturday afternoon, however, a state daily publishing the photo on its front page really shows how ‘numb’ we have become as a society.