Social media is not a monologue!

Social media is an investment of valuable time and resources, which helps one gather support to bring change, reform and in helping build a positive world, to create a wide spread impact.

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Some pertinent themes from Gurudev’s talk on Social Media?

?Self Worth and Social Media?: The world of today has tended to be in a direction, where the self esteem of people is seemingly gauged by the number of likes that one has on social Media.

Gurudev says, ’Likes and dislikes are like bubbles on the surface of water. Likes and dislikes are like ripples, a bubble of thoughts, to which not much of importance should be given. Everything is changing, in the changing world, the most changing thing are the thoughts. Opinions of others don’t really matter. ‘

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?Removing unwanted distractions : To use social media in a positive way that people are not distracted by negative syndromes, Gurudev says, ‘Syndromes like blue whale should be banned to protect children from such malignant games that induce fear. ?

“Nasato Vidyate Bhavo Nabhavo Vidyate Satah”

The unreal has no existence and the real never ceases to be. The unreal is like the shadow, which doesn’t have any existence, in the face of light. So focus should be on what is real, from a higher perspective of knowledge.

To save children and teens from distractions, expectations and social media pressure, one must make sure they spend very little time on social media.

This sets tone for the importance of the right values.

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?Ethics in Social Media?: Establishing Ethics in Social Media helps people to gain more authentic information in the world. Social media has brought a sense of democracy in journalism, and taken off all monopolies. Similar to how democracy has its own positives and flaws, social media can both spread the right news and misnomers too. So, one should be careful enough to make the right usage of social media and bring ethics in Social Media with the right information, with respect and compassion for others. All these values need to be followed.

Social media without values can distort and destruct the psyche of people. Social media with some responsibility, respect and etiquettes can do a lot more good to the world, with an indelible promise of positive social change and the right impact.

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Yet, Why do social media platforms like linked in, Facebook or the likes of it look for number of likes on posts than look at the quality of content?

In today's world, most people go by what is on the outside than give importance to the depth of knowledge. Even badges and the criteria for being an influencer profile seem to be at times determined by the flashy titles and the number of likes and comments one has on social media. When such is the situation, how does one make sure, ?knowledge is given importance to and imbibed, going beyond titles and public opinion.

Opinions are subject to people's understanding and their own beliefs and mindset. Instead, if there could be evaluation of content based on the value add of the content, which brings a reform in the minds of people, brings positive change all around, that could perhaps be a criteria to bring one to the limelight.

Drawing inspiration from Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar's wisdom, here are some strategies to bring about the most effective change in social media platforms, aiming to spread right information and knowledge:

?Promote Authenticity Over Popularity: Encourage users to share authentic content rather than content aimed at garnering likes and comments. Implement algorithms that prioritize meaningful engagement and insightful comments over sheer numbers of likes.

?Quality Over Quantity: Develop systems to evaluate the quality of content based on its educational value, positivity, and impact rather than the number of likes or followers. Create badges or recognition for content that promotes learning, personal growth, and positive societal change.

??Educational Campaigns: Launch initiatives and campaigns to educate users, especially young people, on the importance of self-worth independent of social media validation. Promote digital literacy programs to help users discern between credible information and misinformation.

??Ethics and Responsibility: Establish clear ethical guidelines for content creation and interaction on social media platforms. Encourage respect and compassion in online interactions, making it clear that disrespect and malicious behavior will not be tolerated.

??Delete Harmful Content: Ban or restrict access to harmful games and content that induce fear or promote negative behaviors, such as the Blue Whale Challenge. Implement stricter monitoring and reporting systems to quickly identify and remove harmful content.

??Encourage Mindfulness: One must ensure people are “Mindful” and not “Mind full”. Integrate features that promote mindfulness and self-reflection, such as reminders to take breaks from social media and tools to monitor screen time. A few minutes of meditation a day and some simple breathing techniques should be a huge saver. Share content and resources on mental health and the importance of a balanced life.

??Community Building: Highlight community-driven initiatives that aim to create a positive impact.

??Positive Reinforcement: Reward users who consistently post valuable, positive, and informative content with greater visibility and help spread positive influence. Highlight success stories of individuals and communities using social media for positive change.

??Feedback Mechanisms: Encourage users to provide feedback on the content and the platform’s impact on their well-being. Use this feedback to continuously improve the platform, ensuring it aligns with the goal of spreading right information and knowledge.

By implementing these strategies, social media platforms can transition from focusing on superficial metrics to fostering an environment that values quality, authenticity, and positive impact. This approach not only aligns with the wisdom of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar but also contributes to a healthier, more informed, and compassionate digital world.