Some social media "maniacs"

We are living in a strange social climate where a person’s “acceptance” is defined and judged by the number of “likes” they receive for the content they post on social media. The situation has reached a point where some people feel anxious and depressed if a post gets fewer likes in a single day, as if something has gone wrong in their lives. Naturally, in order to increase likes and shares, people are ready to do anything. Content that causes embarrassment or damage to another person’s reputation often gets the highest attention. What once existed as gossip at village ponds or whispered conversations at well sides has now evolved into the “most viral posts” on social media.

The recent incident in Kozhikode, where a 35-year-old woman named Shimjitha Musthafa from Kainatty, Vadakara, filmed and posted a video accusing a young man of sexual harassment on a private bus, has sparked a serious debate on the misuse of social media. Following the circulation of the video, the young man, U. Deepak, committed suicide. Based on a complaint filed by Deepak’s mother, Kozhikode Medical College police arrested Shimjitha from a relative’s house in Vadakara. The Kunnamangalam Magistrate Court later remanded her for 14 days. Although the police have registered a case for abetment of suicide, the incident highlights a dangerous situation in the digital media era, where the public circulation of defamatory content can push a person to extreme steps.

It has not yet been proven whether any sexual harassment actually took place on the crowded bus. Even if the woman felt uncomfortable due to the behaviour of a fellow passenger, she could have strongly objected, informed the conductor or co-passengers, or filed a police complaint. Instead, she chose to record a video and circulate it on social media. Police have found that the video was edited before being posted. It has also emerged that her initial claim of having filed a police complaint on the same day was false. After the issue became controversial following the young man’s suicide, the woman went into hiding. What actually happened will become clear only after detailed questioning.

This tragic incident, which ended in the loss of a youth, shows the urgent need to set limits on social media misuse. The central and state governments must consider framing clear laws to deal with such digital harassment. The authenticity and credibility of content shared online must be ensured, and strict rules must be followed to protect individual privacy. Otherwise, some “maniacs” may continue to record and post videos for likes and shares, without even trying to resist wrongdoing or seek legal remedies. Instead of boldly standing up to abuse and using lawful means for justice, the growing trend of such social media attacks must be firmly checked.