TRUST ISSUES ON SOCIAL MEDIA

While fake profiling continues to make waves on media and our good ol impersonation takes the AI route ,there is a deeper issue lingering on the contra road.That of trust.Mistrust and suspicion runs rampant and bandwagoning & gaslighting run the roost tickling the vanity bone called entitlement.Even on a professional media like Linkedin ,having been here for years ,I find the platform in a state of seige.Influencers ,algorithm managers are running amok with facebook like hits and the most nincompoopish posts are top of the heap,while well intentioned ''solid'' posts are biting the dust.Kids are advising on how to write an effective post where form is more importantthan the substance.There is the new breed of what I call ''titillation traction'''-posting instagram like self pictures totally unrelated to content.And of course we know that men being the idiots they are,who can see way better than they can think,fall over each other ,to react.I doubt if they even read the post.Footfall management is ensured,number of connections go north and you become a ''top voice'' or whatever ,in no time.

in this cacophony there is a small minority-my senior CA Suprio Ghatak calls it the 5% club.The genuine ,competent 360 degree professional who is on serious work propositions.In that I dare include the well intentioned samaritans,who,having reached some summit in life ,genuinely want to help ,create and nurture.Talent which is unvectored ,some direction.Guidance.Mentoring.Counselling.These people dont ask for money because the young ones,already purse pinched wont have much to give.And second,altruism,boring and impractical ,though it may sound to gennext ,still exists.In the so called bonzer generation. But they are uncled out ,ridiculed,made fun of and trifled with ,never mind if some of us can still outmuscle you in fist fight or outrun you over a quarter mile or outwork you in a 12 hour day.

I came across a post which was a stunning corroboration of my experience in playing the good samaritan.It was about a course @sakshiagrawal(founder of Law Trek)(not my connection.just saw her post) of few sessions in legal drafting.She mentioned a nominal fee and mentioned that it was being charged because otherwise-a.students dont care because they havent paid a single penny b.no loss to students c.dont come on time ,and,d.leave midway.

Irony is,some suggested lack of funds could come in way of good learning.

Ironically ,my experience was similar with the reverse theme- I curated two online courses on income tax, thinking ,with my credentials,genuine professionals would be falling over each other to enroll.Because of my experience ,achievements and the course being PRO BONO.All I got was irreverent responses,people seeking tips and tricks and asking for maggi solutions.No interest in the only way genuine competence is achieved-hard work .Ironically angst of youngsters on social media is relentless -of lack of good guides and seniors.I created a poll-why pro bono courses dont work- the biggest reason was -TRUST.We dont trust a man who is apparently giving free lunch.Without any attempt to ascertain who I was and where I was coming from,a decision was made.Numerous reposts,same result.Today someone seeking career counselling,asked me -''how can I trust you?''....Well,I said,if I ask you thre same ,then?Then I suggested ,do you trust google?Go and put my name there.It has been kinder to me than you people.Couple of hours later ,the lady says she trusts me now!But now I had lost trust and respect...so I politely recused myself.

This twin theme of mistrust and suspicion on one end to the other end of falling prey to gaslighting,back rubbing each other ,superficial achievers claiming cult status getting swamped on even stupidest engagement by them....its stunning.

The so called bonzers never had such issues.A belief in innate goodness of humans saw us through.And yes,we were cheated at times,trust fell throufg.But it never stopped us from trusting-not blindly-but mindly.Yes with mindfulness ,profile check measures ,trust and safety protocols,internet...what all you dont have.Still better ,check the profile,see the kind of posts and comments he /she makes,see the ''about'' part......and above all...interact and find out.Because it is the nexgen which is missing out .The seniors will go one day...good sense will go with them.So evolve parameters of testing out...to me the good ol sixth sense and cognitive tools still work pretty well- and associate yourself with the do gooders.They exist.And remember-

''what is popular is not always correct.And what is correct is not always popular.

We are connected globally through blazing fast digital devices.And yet I never saw more disconnected people in my entire life.