It has become so common to come across Whatsapp and Facebook posts that come with the disclaimer that "media does not want you to know this". And it makes me wonder why any media house would be bothered with your opinion!
In an age where knowledge has been rendered irrelevant and sensationalism drives almost all content, clickbait is no longer just a tactic but an acceptable way of life, news reaches you in a selective, handmade parcel - your social newsfeed. To better explain, you only get news of subjects you are interested in. And no, "smart is the new sexy" is a tagline, like most of the content you see around you today.
If you haven't been living under a rock, you should know that Google and Facebook (add WhatsApp) already know more about you than you would like anyone to know. Which means that these social media groups know exactly what you want and when you want it. In order to keep you engaged, they keep delivering stories and posts that you would want to see, instead of what was earlier called "real-time".
What does that mean? It means Facebook decides exactly whose party who attend, based on who you are better friends with. Google decides what products you should buy, by flooding you with ads of products - carefully managing to highlight more expensive around payday (yes, google knows exactly how much you make) and budget buys for middle of the month etc.
So why the fuss? These giant companies have no issues giving you the personalised care you always deserved. Right? Wrong!
In a debate after the US Elections last year, Mark Zuckerberg admitted to the existence of 'bubble wrap' or specially tailored newsfeed. This means that if you favor a certain political belief, you would begin to see more and more content related to your political belief and little to none of the other beliefs. Simply put, your newsfeed becomes food for preconceived notions of your mind that is provided by like-minded people on your social network. And that's Facebook alone!
Matters are equally sinister on Google. A respected desk editor and ex-colleague had once pointed out that Google is the worst place to look for answers. Like any machine, Google answers your question in the best way it can. So if you are looking for news on "Sun rises in the east", google will provide you more than 4 lakh responses in less than a second. What is interesting is is you then look for "sun rises in the west", google will then provide you another more than 4 lakh responses for the same.
Many of us have forgotten than Google is a search engine, not validation.
Now, if you don't know how to use a search engine correctly, how do you verify these 'facts'? By falling back on word of mouth. Ironic much? If your friend put it on their social network, it must be true. Right? Wrong!
Every single day, social media account are hacked and used without the user ever getting to know! Get it?!
Coming back to the role that media is playing. In India, every mainstream media group is owned - directly or indirectly - by a business house. Their objective is to make money. Despite this, several journalists have been fighting a losing battle to get the truth before the masses. Some are awarded trophies, most get the bullets. And today, none gets your attention because you are so busy rapped in your bubble feed that you don't have time to read objectively or apply intellect. Every year, journalists leave the field for other options because objectivity is so out-dated in our system. Not even a handful of my own friends ever bothered to ask why I left. Their 'bubble wrap' was a lot more interesting.
Meanwhile, smaller, independently-run media groups are rarely managing to stay afloat because you won't trust them or fund them or support them in anyway.
Admit it, you want that big shiny centre of the limelight. And you cannot handle this one-sided pining!
I'm not saying you should or should not keep posting these stupid posts. It's a free country, I'm told. Just spare me the melodrama.
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