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Social media is a good medium to educate people and change mindsets. But with irresponsible use of its power, there can be a negative impact.
To the people who rant about Poonam Pandey’s “good” intention behind her publicity stunt, let me tell you about its negative impact.
When scrolling through a recent Instagram post of Dr Taneya Narendra (Drcuterus), I saw a few comments saying, “Poonam Pandey is alive; now stop this,” and that is its negative impact, which has the potential to overpower her “good intentions.” Why? Because this is India, where the lack of reproductive awareness is celebrated.
For many, because of her PR activity, cervical cancer has now turned out to be a joke. Some are even thinking that all these cervical cancer things on social media are marketing tactics of pharmacies. Basically this act of PR stunt created misunderstanding among the people. But the data showing the numbers of cervical cancer patients may shock them.
According to data from the World Health Organization for 2020, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. In 2024, the American Cancer Society estimates the diagnosis of about 13,820 new cases in the United States. Also, it mentioned the estimated death rate, which is 4360.
In India, of all cancers in women, an approximate 6-29% contributes to cervical cancer, from the data provided by the National Library of Medicine, the second-most common type of cancer in our country. So the danger of this disease is beyond Poonam Pandey’s publicity stunt.
Social media is an influential platform; it is where multiple types of communication are happening. The contents here have the potential to influence its consumers. The impact from these media can make a person change their decisions, their opinion, their way of thinking, etc.
With all its positive aspects, it is a good medium to educate people about such diseases and create awareness.
But do we need to make a drama about fake deaths to gain attention on this specific topic? It is up to the users of these platforms. We, as users and consumers of these platforms, should be responsible towards the society. Death is not a joke. There are many people who have lost loved ones because of cancer. For them, the news that flows through social media may generate their past emotional turmoil. It affects them mentally. Making all of them mentally unwell for a day and the next morning coming up with a video saying “I am alive” is utterly insensitive.
Pursuing Post Graduation in Journalism and Media Studies after completing MA in Philosophy. Currently Unlearning and learning many things. read more...
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UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
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