NOWADAYS the only thing one notices in pictures floating on social media sites is the intimate nature of behaviour between media celebrities of the two genders. What gets my disapproval is the way it gains constant coverage. It is wrong on so many levels. The coverage of these so-called couples — most of them calling themselves ‘just friends’ — validates the intimacy and sends out a very clear message to young and immature minds that it is okay to bypass the traditional role of parents in a marriage proposal.

Apparently, most celebrities promote anything and everything that opposes traditional values in order to be acknowledged as ‘modern socialites’. It would be very wrong to put the entire burden of blame on the youngsters alone. In this day and age, cultural traditions and religious beliefs are becoming things of the past, and that makes one wonder where we are all headed.

In our society, it all started with changes in what is defined as acceptable attire on the media, followed by decimation of one tradition after another. The younger audiences get enticed by watching the images of their favourite stars and blindly accept what they see.

While advertisements and movies revolve around dancing and dating, the television drama has nothing to show but romance, flirtation, love triangle, infidelity, adultery and lust. This is just sad.

Naila Ovais
Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2020