UNORTHODOX events go viral on the social media. Recently, this was the case of a video clip of a young boy singing the wrong lyrics to a song that was in a foreign language. The mainstream media responded with countless names.

The young lad’s father says that the boy is now in a depression. He has isolated himself in his room and refuses to snap out self-pity. Everyone at school was making fun of him so he has taken a break from his studies.

A similar incident took place almost a year ago when a college girl attempted to commit suicide because a video of her went viral on the social media for her imperfect English.

We need to realise that if we are making fun of someone, it could very well be us tomorrow. It is time there were a stringent code about cyber- etiquette.

Syed Arqam
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2018