SOCIAL-MEDIA RUMOURS ARE SCYTHING THROUGH CUSTOMARY INFO BLOCKS

Aftermath of Kandy building collapse

- Amantha Perera

Tragedies can be kaleidoscopic moments. They provide those instances that cut through imposed façades. An unobtrusive cutaway view in a moment of tragic truth.

The latest such tragedy in Kandy where three innocent lives were lost was such a moment. To me, looking at it from afar, it provided that moment where I could see the integral role social media plays in Sri Lanka right now.

I have written and spoken at length on the impact of social media in the electoral process. The ingrained influences are such because without social media, Sri Lanka society probably might not function the way it does now.

First the incident and the larger role of media decency. Tragedy will bring out the best and worst in media. While some would try getting to the core of the story, others will tug at the heartstrings, over and over again.

Mike carrying dimwits would jab cameras at people who have suffered unimaginable horrors, like a building collapsing on them, and ask them to describe what transpired. And in this case also we saw tearful images played over and over again.