What is happening to mankind? When did it become acceptable, or even worse: the norm, to be a mere spectator to life? Is this a negative effect of our modern age we weren't prepared for?
Advances in technology and social media have transformed us into journalists, critics, publishers and producers. It started out as giving every body with access to technology the opportunity to voice an opinion. And that is great! Democracy at its best.
We tasted power. No longer can corporations afford to ignore our pleas or requests, no longer can our complaints be ignored. There are few things that can hurt the reputation of a brand like an ignored, disgruntled customer on social media.
Where did it go wrong then? In my opinion there are two factors to blame. The first is that when we constantly place a machine between us and our fellow humans, they become dehumanized. When you tear somebody to shreds on a discussion board, you do not think about the person or his/her feelings. You become a key board warrior with the right to an opinion, even at the expense of somebody else.
Secondly, competition has crept into the virtual world. Whether you monetize your work or not, most of us are chasing hits. It is all about exposure. The same holds true for old media. Viewers are swamped with content. Journalists are constantly looking for new angles to attract attention.
There must come a time when we say enough is enough. A time when we take a long, hard look at our values. A time when helping a fellow human being is worth far more than ratings.
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