You will often notice people from different groups or communities fighting on social media over issues they don’t even fully understand, which is a major concern in India. This behavior is disturbing communal harmony and, in some cases, even leads to physical confrontations, which is deeply worrisome. While such incidents have occurred in the past, they have increased significantly in the age of social media, where information spreads like wildfire.
But what causes this?
Why is there so much hatred between different groups or communities?
Below are some of the key issues that we believe are creating rifts between communities:
Lack of Sensibility
Many people are not acting sensibly. They believe everything they see on social media, comment without verifying facts, and engage in heated arguments that sometimes escalate into physical fights. People are often so impatient to react that they don’t bother to check whether the information is true.
At times, fake news circulates widely on social media, and people end up fighting over completely false narratives.
Additionally, even if an individual says something offensive about a particular group or community, it reflects that person’s personal opinion, not the belief of the entire community they belong to. However, people often generalize and target the whole community instead of holding only the individual accountable. This commonly happens between states, religious groups, or different communities.
We must be sensible and responsible about what we write, how we interpret information, and how we react on social media.
Fake News
Some people deliberately spread fake news to gain engagement or fulfill personal agendas. We should not fall into such traps. Instead, we must identify such accounts and report them as misleading or hateful, helping social media platforms take appropriate action.
Politics
At times, certain politicians make hateful statements to appeal to specific vote banks and win elections. We should not react emotionally to such remarks. Instead, we must use our judgment and think critically before accepting or spreading such messages.
Lack of Respect
Different groups and communities need to respect each other’s beliefs, customs, cultures, languages, and traditions. The absence of mutual respect often leads to misunderstandings and confrontation. Without respect, hostility is inevitable.
Lack of Social Responsibility
While some people post hateful or offensive content, others encourage and amplify it instead of calming the situation. Maintaining peace and harmony is everyone’s responsibility. Each individual must act responsibly to create a positive environment in their society and community.
