Blog
The most concerning downside of encrypted messaging applications is an inability to screen, analyze, and trace messages that may proliferate fake news. This is evidenced by WhatsApp becoming a breeding site for misinformation in its biggest user base in India. The inability of such platforms to take down incorrect information and identify or penalize its perpetrators makes it nearly impossible to control and fact-check the information being shared.
The paradoxical practice of watching “bad, trashy, awful” films and shows is a curious one. How is it that we call something bad and still engage with it? Viewers from “elite” classes can interact with “bad” television without it contaminating their social status as they use various viewing styles: admire it because of its “badness,” watch it as a guilty pleasure or consume it ironically. Turns out, our taste and viewing practices reveal a great deal about identity, class, norms, and social dynamics.
The need to always ‘feel right’ is being constantly fueled and promoted around us. Anything negative is instantly labelled as ‘bad’. But we often fail to realize that suppressing the ‘bad’ or neglecting the unpleasant emotions can lead to various mental health issues. This process of forced positivity is known as toxic positivity. Whereas, accepting the negative situation and validating the accompanying emotions actually help resolve the issue and hand and give the required mental space to process our emotions, which leads to better mental health outcomes. And this process of validating our emotions while having a generally positive outlook and coping strategies is known as positivity.
