Over the last two decades, social media sites have gone from seldom-used, lighthearted, fun ways to connect with people and express ourselves online, to a series of apps and websites that are seemingly constantly fraught with controversy and serious social dilemmas. For instance, multiple studies have shown significant correlations between the rise of social media use and skyrocketing rates of depression and anxiety among teens and tweens. Other studies suggest social media may be potentially addictive, as a quick break on our favorite app can quickly turn into two hours lost down the “rabbit hole.” But given the extreme popularity of social media apps, surely they must offer some significant opportunities to make humans’ lives better?
Sadhguru: “See, it can become a powerful medium. I’m saying, at some point, if it is properly accounted for, you could vote through Twitter. You don’t have to go to an election booth, if the platform is run in a very responsible way. Look at this cost of the election, look at the mess, look at the influence that’s happening. If I can vote from my Twitter account, it’s a done thing. You could run democracy on Twitter; I see a possibility, if it becomes a responsible structure rather than just a gossipy nonsense, there is tremendous power to it – only thing is, numbers will come down; so, what? You’re anyway not charging for the account, so what does it matter?”
“Whether you have 15 billion people doing Twitter who don’t exist, only 3 billion people who actually exist do it, isn’t it better? You can become a powerful force in the making of a nation, in the making of world’s democracies. I’m not just saying outright voting itself – in so many ways! Government wants to know something: we’re going to do this – are you happy, or not? Tomorrow morning everybody can tweet and say, “I’m happy” or “I’m not happy” about something. Various policy issues, everything if it comes to this, then you will become a powerful medium.”
“Right now it’s like ‘page 3’ stuff, because 90% of the people are talking some rubbish because their names are not out there. I feel this anonymous social media must go. If somebody wants to say something, he must have the courage to say, “I’m saying this.” Hiding… putting your name in the front, and I’m saying something; I don’t think this is right. All these people have 5-10 accounts, and they’re saying their own rotten stuff because there’s no accountability. I think this anonymous social media has to be gone; everybody can say what they want, as long as they stand up and say it. I think that aspect should be brought about, which would make the social media much more powerful and responsible instrument. Maybe the numbers will come down, but it will become far more powerful and responsible force in the world.”
“Right now slowly it’s coming to a point where you think you have to dismiss what is said in social media; it’s not true, it’s all just… something, because those numbers are increasing more than responsible voices. You must see the possibility of this tremendous tool of communication. And I’m telling you, only if there is responsible usage will it become a powerful medium. If you take away the anonymous factor, if responsible tweeting begins to happen, then it will become imperative that everybody must have a Twitter account, because this will become your way of communicating with each other, communicating with the government, communicating with various agencies. You want something to happen, you don’t have to go and protest on the street. If a million people tweet and say “this is it,” people know this is what needs to be done.”
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