Why are we so serious with the social networking sites?

Only recently, there was the report of authorities from different countries asking for private
data about users and their posts to several of the social networking sites. Apparently, there is
nothing wrong in it. Anybody can ask for any sort of data or information, and there can be
hundreds of purposes for doing the thing. Especially when the authorities demand
information, there must be a specific purpose for the same.
Often, we do not speculate when authorities demand data. Sometimes, it is for the headcount
of population; at some other times, the data may go into a statistical base that can lead to a
certain conclusion leading towards, or at least pointing the direction for, a social growth and
development. But perhaps, this was in the pre-WikiLeaks era!
Post WikiLeaks, we must try to understand why the authorities need the data from the social
networking sites. Are they then trying to find out spies among us, who spread hate speeches,
violence and the likes? So far, we knew spies are only a few and the difficulty in finding them
out was primarily due to their low count! Now it seems, every alternate head in a bus stand
queue seems like a spy! Or at least thats how the authorities are looking at it, aint it?
Let the authorities do whatever they think is correct, rightful or needed. This post is not at all
to bash their wish, neither to say we are endangered by such attempts. This is about
something else
I have been on some of the social networking sites for 5+ years by now. I have seen the
gradual change in trend among the users. Today, in order to get maximum likes, one needs to
put an image as a post for sure! If the image comes with a relevant text, it is most welcome. If
it comes with a somewhat irrelevant text, then also it will do. Even if it does not have a text,
it is fine! On the contrary, if there is a text without any image posted with it, however
meaningful the text might be, it will be viewed least, and liked even less!
It is not to complain about the trend but just to draw the attention of readers towards it, which
we may not be aware of consciously. Why I am calling this a change of trend is because this
wasnt the case even 5 years back! At that time, a good text used to get a god viewership as
well!
What does this change signify? Simple- people do not want serious stuff out here! The
population today is gradually shifting from TV towards internet and smartphones, where they
get the TV moving with them! Thus, internet and smartphones are not just a necessity but
also a source of entertainment. In another 5 years time, they will actually start replacing the
TV as the primary source of entertainment. It is evident from the fact that several TV

production and media powerhouses worldwide are taking up seriously the matter of feeding
live stream on the internet!
Since this is so, the social networking sites are also now becoming more of sources of
entertainment rather than a place for serious discussion (which the grumpy-faced people
mostly do!). It is evident from the changing trend. If it is true that an image without a text can
get you 10 times more like than a thoughtful expression in a text without an image, then we
may conclude that the social networking sites are nothing but childrens picture book. We all
know about those picture books that the kids are so fond of, and they can spend hours
colouring the objects inside. They are not a burden to the kids mind as there is no text
involved. It is only about certain objects and images. No need for an intellectual exercise- just
colour them objectively! While aesthetics increase in this way, logical reasoning has no place
out here!
So, is it that social networking sites are actually getting crowded with people who do not
want to take the pain of an intellectual discussion or exercise? Are they just becoming kids
colouring book in a digital form? It seems like that only. Pity!
Now lets come back to what we started with- the authorities asking for users information on
social networking sites. If most of the users are kid-like, or at least so when surfing through
the social networking sites, do the authorities really need at all to bother about whos posting
what and what not? Yes, some recent trends have shown that several posts and communities
on social networking sites have incited a public furore! But I think its nothing like a fad- a
common term in fashion that means only a temporary outburst of a certain like that
disappears within hours.
The more the authorities will give importance to the social networking sites, the more the
psyche of the common man will take the posts seriously, resulting in such outbursts. The less
the authorities put importance to these sites; the common man will also start forgetting about
the posts as soon as they are read, thereby reducing such public outrage and furore in a few
years time! Believe me, its just a fad thats temporary! The more importance you give to it,
the more importance it gains, and vice versa.
I am sure the authorities have other more meaningful things to do- like putting a democratic
IT Act in place, making sure secret data are not stolen digitally, running the internet services
faster and safer, tracking email IDs that try to dupe people by alluring them of lotteries, etc.
Why to waste time after something that is a fad and will only fade away with time!
The social networking sites also have a role to play to ease the job for the authorities. Is it
also not their moral responsibility to filter out posts that can be objectionable to a celebrity, a

public figure, an organization or an authority? Can they not have a system in place where
they filter out all the posts, and send back the objectionable ones to the users asking them to
review or post on their own risks? If the user still decides to post, publish it and let the user
be ready for the consequences. If the user is level headed, perhaps s/he will simply delete the
post before publishing the same. Does that not half the role the authorities will otherwise
have to play?
Disclaimer:- This post is not to disrespect, dishonour or disregard any person, individual,
organization, authority or anyone else. It is purely meant for provoking thought among the
readers without questioning or criticizing any act whatsoever of any individual, organization
or authority. Anybody finding this objectionable due to any reason whatsoever can kindly
submit a comment regarding the same, which will be considered immediately.