As much as everyone seems to be so concerned about the quiet ill mental health pandemic, it seems also as if no one wants to acknowledge and address its root cause. 

Lately, just a brief browse and scroll on social media paints a picture of a society spiraling into self-destruction, both individually and collectively. Social media, a powerful tool that has in some instances positively transformed nations, has been downgraded to a scenery of slander, defamation, bullying, and belittling. 

As a result of this strongly emerging trend, some critics may have narrow-mindedly and wrongly characterised the social media platforms themselves as bad. However, when critically analysed, the platforms are neutral. It is the users or abusers, and their content, that eventually sends a ripple effect throughout the fabric of society.

Of course, it is not only a constitutional right but a human one to express ourselves freely, but just as with every right, this too comes with responsibility. 

In our self-expression, we also have a duty and responsibility to cause no harm to others. This, however, does not only come with freedom of expression, but it is just common sense and the general principle of doing unto others as we wish to be done unto us. 

In our self-expression and content creation, there is a natural expectation that we should do so with respect to others and their dignity. However, the virtual world clearly seems to have devalued the general principle and acknowledgement that behind every social media account is a human being with emotions, not a bot. Therefore, in disregard of this fact, we may take away the right of others to a dignified and peaceful life experience we wish for ourselves.

Moreover, besides the impact of our social media actions on others, there also lurks another shark to our own mental and emotional well-being. The ceaseless, insatiable desire for likes and subtle attention-seeking behavior eventually leads to our detriment. 

As our dopamine highs gradually rise to enormous levels, social media becomes the root nest of our emotional, hormonal, and psychological imbalances. It becomes a self-inflicted prison that only baptism in the Goreangab sewage dam may save us from. Sadly, not everyone can see it coming as a high dopamine rush can, deceivingly, elusively, and sweetly lead to social media becoming an emotional hell-hole, from which only a visit to Childline/Lifeline may save us.

So, what is the antidote? One may ask. Of course, funnily enough, the answer to a million-dollar question is not necessarily a million-dollar one. In the case of this silent mental health conundrum, one needs not even to study or trust Dr. Fauci’s science but go back to the basics: Self-regulation, also popularly known as discipline. 

The overuse and abuse of social media to the point of self-harm and unto others cannot be described further away from a growing trend of lack of self-regulation, critical thinking, and personal duty of the emotional well-being of all humankind. 

To top it off, and with reference to the previous articles’ assertion on awakening, we can only experience what we create through sharing it with others. If we use social media platforms to spit out the venom within us, we must, at the same time, expect to bear the pain it carries with us. Whether it be slander or self-glorification in the pretense of inspiring others, between the lines may lie an opportunity for a natural and intuitive psychic to see faint lines of insecurity and a cry out for approval, or even a spiteful act towards adversaries only known to us. With that said, a blessed festive season to us all as we amass enough supply of self-regulation, and not liquor.

*Uncommon Sense is published in the New Era with contributions from Karlos Naimwhaka. YouTube channel: Karlos Lokos.

– karlsimbumusic@gmail.comw