Sheikh Aatif, Waseem Rashid
Oxford Dictionary defines the term Internet as “A global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardized communication protocols. “This concise meaning of internet is pragmatically seen everywhere in the world as internet is ruling the globe overtly since inception.Every country is operating the internet to solve imminent problems and carry out activities faster and better. Internet has implanted its roots deep into the lives of people through its allies viz Google, Face book, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and it counts endless. The Contemporary World runs over the realm of internet from new innovation of technology to zenith of globalisation all and sundry are willing part of it.There are 4.2 billion users of internet out of 7.7 billion world total population. Talking about Kashmir, Internet has always been a surprising Guest for the valley users and is known to everyone. Internet blockade has always remained at the top list of problems faced by Valley population following any insurgency. Despite the fact of Internet Gag people of valley have adjusted this troublesome and stepped deep into the internet world. Factually YouTube has been ranked the most visited video sharing site in the world with over 5 billion videos watched every single day. With a whooping earning for the month this avarice magnetised the youths of valley and prompted their will to invest their hard work in YouTube. Somehow the unemployment in the valley also induced the youths to rely on the earnings from YouTube rather than keeping eye on the government job vacancies.
Lucrativeness of the YouTube not only compelled youths but some old-aged singers and vocalists of 90s who were famous for traditional tunes performing only on marriage ceremonies now are seen with much love and desire wearing full traditional dance apparel and performing on YouTube promoting Kashmiri songs and seeking earnings. Apart from the remunerative purposes masses of Kashmir found YouTube an easy and globally used platform to exhibit their talent to the rest of world. People started uploading videos of Comedy, rapsongs, global dance styles like hip-hop and break dance, art, poetry, beat-boxing, martial arts and mostly it gave a rise to the Vlog Creators of Kashmir to capture the unexplored aesthetical nature of Kashmir Valley and adding that content to the world interest through their YouTube channels. The other side of this accessibility of internet allies possess such a dark phase which no users want to acknowledge but is exceedingly carving for it.This inevitable phase has sowed the seeds of insouciance, licentiousness, idiocy and indiscreetness into the minds of masses of Kashmir Valley.
Every member of Family is having the full access of Internet and is paying hefty amounts to it every month to remain in touch with the outside world but unfortunately in contrary it has disconnected the intimacy of family members with each other as everyone is seen busy with their big screen. This time is mostly suffering from the moral degradations and lacking proper socialisation of the children because we as parents have tied our parenting to the internet and its allies. This proportionally affects the structure and order of society. Our lives are being controlled by these technological inventions as we use excessively and give priority to this fanciful cyberspace. From the unrealistic soldier of PUBG (boys) , the queen of tiktok (girls) to the part-time fortuitous actors of YouTube(adults) almost every mind is willingly being controlled. The trends and challenges are driving lives of people so insanely that they are on the brink of losing their consciousness’ of mind and for same reason Government has banned some games and apps which were menacing the life of youths .Apart from advices from the Doctors, Sermons also surfaced on media regarding this trend advising them to refrain from these filthy acts as they disturb the peace of mind and soul.
This may be called a technological menace if we continually paced the same way we are presently indebted. Our Physical and Mental presence is almost set-apart which must becoalesced for proper functioning of the body and mind but this symphony is all ruinedby this addictive form of internet. Without denying the fact that internet with its Versatility has become an important part of life and in this modern world and important tool for almost every sector of life but at the same time we often face questions like the forth coming one from our grand parents and other elders that “when there was no mobile phone/internet didn’t we survive? And genuinely this is a sensitive question and desperately in need of an able answer and maybe the answer to this will be the answer to many other questions as well. The answer is “yes they did survive and did so with full potential and happiness but what is the reason that when today these services are snapped for an hour or two weeks feel crazy, have we sold our potential of survival to something that itself doesn’t survive? Are we in a business that has a buyer with no life? Yes, we are in such business and are there with full static enthusiasm without moving our limbs we claim to be active we designate ourselves active now there(on social networking sites or in general on internet) but in a traditional and more enlightened sense we are stagnant and stagnant to that extent that we are declared fatty, diabetic etc. They also ask us “we were healthier than you, when we were of your age, what has happened to you? “ So, again a concert and genuine question. This question has arrived because we were supposed to take as an optional subject but we made it compulsory with our limbs unmoved , no doubt internet gives you an online doctor but it doesn’t provide you gym it won’t provide you a park for jogging, it won’t you fresh air for a long breaths, let’s don’t be totally pessimist about internet but at the same time let’s be genuine and let it be optional and try to stop breathing with the hot air that surround the browsing machines let’s examine ourselves and give a new life to physical relations and click for a while on pause option and get active in real sense.
(Sheikh Aatif is a student at the Department of Economics, Aligarh Muslim University and Waseem Rashid is a student at the Department of Physics at Cluster University Srinagar. Views of the authors are their own)
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