“Some people feel the rain, others just get wet”. These words by Bob Marley ring so true, especially in the world of social media, where likes and comments are instant, given almost reflexively, without much of a thought.

As people scroll through their social media feed, watching a beautiful scenery, a cute child, a graceful animal, an elegant dance, a malnourished starving child somewhere in some godforsaken country, graphic images of some accident or wars or human abuses and much more of interesting to bizarre stuff, how does it affect them. Do they pause and think. Do they grasp the stories hiding in those images. Do they try to peel the layers to gain more insight. Do they feel the beauty, joy, grief or sadness deeply and empathise with it.

Going further, do they feel one single emotion, one at a time or is it a mishmash that they feel. Sour, sweet, pungent, bitter, salty, etc., mixed up into a tasteless goo.

Importantly do they remember all of it, in the next moment, next hour, next day, next week or the next month. Or is it too much to ask for.

Or may be I am wrong. People could be smart nowadays. They might be carefully picking and choosing, what they want to see, scrolling rapidly past the unwanted and undesirable content. Thus keeping themselves safe and sane.

But yes, for people of the older generation and a few people like me, social media can be a disconcerting experience due to the myriads of conflicting emotions and feelings on display. All at the same time.

©️ShashikantDudhgaonkar