In Black mirror, the British dystopian science fiction anthology television series (available on Netflix), the episode titled Hated in the nation it has a hauntingly relatable history. It shows how online hate, better known as ‘trolling’ on social media, can affect society at large. The episode begins with the investigation into the death of a journalist who wrote a column with an unpopular opinion and evoked so much abuse online that his name, followed by the hashtag #DeathTo, is trending on social media. However, the story’s twist comes when the ‘social media warriors’ who hide in the comfort of their online accounts and enjoy anonymity while spreading negativity, are forced to pay a huge price for their wars in social networks.
The episode is a lesson in how social media is often used as a battlefield against freedom of expression, ironically using the same right as an excuse. Anyone can be vilified, trolled, verbally abused and there are no immediate consequences for these ‘trolls’ moving on with their lives. Official investigations by the police or the judiciary seem to have no impact on their views, and these self-proclaimed messiahs of justice deny even the constitutional right to privacy of their victims.
The most recent of this dilemma in India has been evident in the case of Rhea Chakraborty, who has been tried by the media for the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who allegedly died by suicide on June 14. Anyone and everyone who has spoken. for Rhea in recent weeks, including Bollywood actors Taapsee Pannu and Swara Bhasker, and most recently Vidya Balan, have been mercilessly ‘trolled’ by so-called ‘Warriors for Justice for SSR’. This group even includes prominent journalists, who have spit poison and drama against the 25-year-old woman who is still under investigation.
The saying that ‘innocent until proven otherwise’ seems to have been forgotten, with growing intolerance towards anyone who disagrees with the ‘warriors’. On Tuesday, September 1, Vidya, in response to southern actor Lakshmi Manchu’s tweet, said the same thing.
Anyone with common sense can see that Vidya does not claim that Rhea is innocent; he is calling for reason and justice to prevail rather than the media hype that has surrounded the case from day one. However, Twitter has been inundated with abuse against Vidya for the past three days, with many accusing her of not sympathizing with the SSR family and supporting a ‘criminal’, referring to Rhea against whom no evidence has yet been proven. criminal charge. In fact, the CBI investigation that began into the case a few weeks ago has so far found no evidence to show that he was killed.
I didn’t know Sushant on a personal level nor do I know Rhea, but what I do know is that it only takes a human being to understand how wrong it is to take over the judiciary to convict someone who has not been proven guilty. Trust the law of the land for your sanity and the sanctity of the deceased 🙏🏼 https://t.co/gmd6GVMNjc
– taapsee pannu (@taapsee) August 30, 2020
Of course, this is not the first time that the media and online trolls have trashed a celebrity. Earlier this year, actress Deepika Padukone was abused online after going to JNU, in support of the anti-CAA protesters there. After SSR’s death, actress Alia Bhatt was also attacked by trolls, just for belonging to a family in the industry. Just two days ago, actress Shibani Dandekar wrote a heartfelt message supporting Rhea, who has been her friend for a decade; Before long, trolls attacked not only Shibani but also celebrities who agreed with her statement.
Read also: Addressing Rhea Chakraborty in RSS Death Case Stinks of Sexism
And this online attack isn’t just limited to actors. A few years ago, MP Shashi Tharoor was on the receiving end of the media tirade after the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar. In fact, he fought for his “right to silence” against the media trial, which he said was undermining the investigation into the alleged suicide. (In August 2017, the Delhi High Court ruled in Tharoor’s favor.)
However, the warriors of the RSS have denied this right to silence to Rea, against whom no crime related to the RSS has yet been proven. Now, anyone who appears to be speaking on their behalf is also being threatened. Maybe we all could use to look again Hated in the nation.
Read also: On behalf of #JusticeForSSR, Kangana Ranaut attacks mental health advocates
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