We have been using WhatsApp since 2009. It has successfully completed 11 years and it has reached new heights in its journey. Because of good adaptation policy, new technology and fulfilling wants of its users, it will be more successful in the coming years.
The basic purpose of launching WhatsApp was to connect with people freely throughout the world. The initial version of WhatsApp featured with texting messages, sending photos, videos, and audio. Gradually, it introduced an in-built calling feature, followed by video call feature and status feature. We never knew that we would be adapting WhatsApp in our day to day lives. Who knew that people would judge each other on the basis of their Display Picture put up or what kind of status he/she uploads?
An irony is that we call to inform that we have dropped a message on WhatsApp. Isn’t it stupid that we call to give a message about dropping a message on messenger?
We are part of many groups created on WhatsApp where each and every group is different and the content shared on each group is also different. Let’s talk about some groups.
1) The Family Group:
We are added in this group against our will, just to keep up with all the minor and major activities happening in the family like birthdays, anniversaries, and festivals. Everyone has encountered big messages from some of the “Dharmic Sanstha” telling us to believe in God, which are as big as 1-2 pages of some chapter from our textbook. And not to forget; forward this message to more 13 people and God will save you from Avalanche.
2) The Friends Group:
We don’t get much knowledge from this group. But it is important in one’s life. This is the group where we all enjoy sharing memes (modern day “jokes”) and sometimes teasing anyone of them, until he/she goes offline. Also sharing of GIFs is fun, conveying message in a funny small video format and also keeps the conversation alive.
3) The Society Group:
This group is officially for discussing society related matters. The news and information which should be shared by every member are also updated. In this lockdown period, members keep themselves entertained by playing games on WhatsApp. Additionally, the good morning messages are flooded and every Sunday Morning breakfast is shared through images.
Each and every thing has its own Pros and Cons. So does WhatsApp. We get all the information of the world at just one place within minutes. However, most of the information shared on WhatsApp has no authenticity. Although people act smart by just assuming that all the information, they share is true. “Fastest Finger First” meaning the one who forwards first Is the saviour of society.
WhatsApp doesn’t filter the messages shared into genuine and fake, therefore people get misguided and sometimes it even leads to death. For e.g.: Recently, there was a WhatsApp forward about imposing of complete lockdown which lead into, people rushing to stores to buy essential products without any social distance. This could have led in to community transmission.
The people living in rural areas don’t have much knowledge about using the application and hence we can’t expect from them to bifurcate the information.
The Social Media Applications are the biggest platform for election campaigns in India. There are various groups on WhatsApp and various pages on Facebook which are operated by representatives of Political Parties. These pages / groups are directed towards the targeted audience to get maximum votes. The messages shared are inflammatory, misleading and unwanted information forwarded from time to time to propagate their party.
The only problem with WhatsApp is unlike Facebook and Twitter, the information here is not checked, monitored or filtered as the platform is private and the users are protected by end-to-end encryption. WhatsApp is not ready to change its policies as they want people to communicate in private. And this is what keeps them in business.
Reason Behind This Title:
A university, which provides us highest level of any kind of knowledge. And it is fast growing in today’s world. Since WhatsApp has taken over the most preferred communication medium in India, major information shared is funny and unrealistic. The Age Group of above 25-30 years is the most active people on WhatsApp for “forwarding” messages without knowing its authenticity.
We should know that one forwarded message can lead to chaos. Everyone has their own life and problems and by just one forward, the information becomes part of one’s life.
I hope I was able to explain my point. If you all agree with me then let’s us keep a check on the messages and let’s not end up graduating from the WhatsApp University.
“Today’s humans do not need terrorists to disrupt peace in the world – they are doing it themselves quite well.”
– Abhijit Naskar
Jerry Writes 