Social media has emerged as a great enabler of aid and assistance in times of the Covid-19 pandemic. As the nation reeled under the pressure of a devastating second wave of Covid-19, social media platforms were used by almost everybody to either ask for or give assistance to those in need. TFI had explained earlier, however, how social media – particularly Twitter was emerging as a hotbed of misinformation, rumours and propaganda. Add that with the perpetual ‘expert syndrome’ of many Indians, social media also showed us its worst side in the past two months or so.
Now, in a shocking development which speaks volumed about how ‘intellectuals’ are in fact, intellectually bankrupt, part-time actor and full-time activist, Swara Bhasker helped a social media user procure ‘Viagra’ tablets only recently. The user had used the chemical name of Viagra, which is ‘Sildenafil’ to ask for help from Swara Bhasker. The know-all actor blindly retweeted the man’s appeal – thus making a humongous clown of herself.
I condemn such behaviour!! pic.twitter.com/ova8oCrR5F
— Facts (@BefittingFacts) May 26, 2021
Sildenafil, sold under the brand name Viagra among others, is a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Effectively, Swara Bhasker – who sermonises just about anybody on how the country should be run, helped a man procure Viagra on Twitter. Perhaps it would be too much on the part of anyone to expect Swara Bhasker to at least look into what people are demanding her to help them with.
Having said that, the man who ran this prank on Swara, too needs to be ashamed of himself. At a time when the country is facing a crisis and everyone has in some way suffered the brunt of the pandemic – to play a prank as lowly as he did on Twitter is definitely condemnable.
A word of caution also needs to be extended to those people who are mindlessly retweeting every message/tweet calling for help, hours after it was first published. Thinking strategically at this crucial juncture is essential. If you see a tweet and have the means of extending help – do so quietly. Pressing on the retweet button is very easy, but it creates a panic wave across the nation. If you cannot directly help, contact someone you know who can, and do so privately. If you can do nothing, only then retweet the call for help, and undo it as soon as help has reached the person/persons concerned. Also, try to ascertain whether the appeal is genuine in the first place, and not a mere copy-paste job.
Social media, undoubtedly, is helping many individuals in need of grave assistance. Countless lives are being saved due to the activism of innumerable people on social media platforms. Yet, every Indian must remember to use social media judiciously.
