The race for views is eroding truth and wisdom. The viewers must choose enlightenment over empty entertainment.
Waseem Akhter Dar
In today’s digital age, the pursuit of views, likes, and shares has become an obsession, so much so that it is steadily eroding the very fabric of our society. Social media platforms, once envisioned as tools for connection, awareness, and learning, are increasingly being misused to spread irrelevant, misleading, and often harmful content. Every day, we witness a new self-proclaimed “journalist,” “content creator,” or “influencer” emerging from nowhere, armed not with knowledge or responsibility, but with a camera and an appetite for instant fame.
The tragedy lies not merely in the abundance of content, but in its quality, or rather, the lack of it. Sensationalism has replaced substance. Noise has drowned out reason. People are willing to stoop to any level, distorting facts, invading privacy, spreading rumours, or mocking decency, just to stay relevant in the ruthless, algorithm-driven race for attention.
More alarming is the growing tendency of unqualified individuals to lecture society on complex matters such as lifestyle choices, food habits, health, morality, ethics, and social values. Formal education alone does not define wisdom, but when basic understanding, critical thinking, and accountability are missing, the consequences can be disastrous. Expertise is being sidelined, while superficial opinions are celebrated. Intellectuals, scholars, and genuine thinkers struggle for recognition, whereas trivial entertainers and shock-value performers command millions of followers.
This dangerous trend is pushing society towards intellectual darkness and collective madness. When relevance is measured by virality rather than value, truth becomes negotiable, and wisdom becomes inconvenient. The youth, in particular, are at risk, consuming distorted narratives and mistaking popularity for credibility.
If we fail to introspect now, the consequences will be severe and long-lasting. A society that mocks knowledge and glorifies ignorance cannot progress. It can only regress. The responsibility lies not just with content creators, but also with viewers. What we like, share, and promote reflects our collective priorities.
It is time to pause and ask ourselves: Are we consuming content that enlightens us, or merely entertains us momentarily while hollowing us from within? The future depends on this choice. If we do not reclaim reason, responsibility, and respect for intellect today, tomorrow may leave us with a society rich in views but bankrupt in values.
The writer is a librarian at the Department of School Education
wa**************@***il.com