We are living in an era where many people, young and old, now have access to smart phones, an era where someone just picks up his or her phone,taps that red icon and starts recording several things in the name of gathering content.
The question here is,when should we always use our phones and for what reason? Much as that phone belongs to you, it does not give you the right to record or take pictures of whatever you think will help you get those views and likes on TikTok. TikTokers need to know their limit when it comes to using their phones.
The technological invasion of people’s privacy is now at its peak and something must be done to stop this vice from spreading further. It even became worse when a popular TikToker known as Desire alias Millionaire Girlfriend, a fiancée to video Director Edrine Paul lost her mother a few days ago.The TikTok timeline was full of video clips of this poor young lady who was mourning the loss of her mother.
When you watch the clips,you can visibly see that Desire was not in her senses, she lost consciousness several times, she was being supported to eat, stand and walk. But still, there were those unserious people who went ahead to record all this. The insensitive comments on the video clips and the talk about her family background which took center stage on the social media app in the aftermath of the burial also exacerbated the situation.
What happened to empathy these days? Are people now attending burials to find what to talk about those who are grieving? Is sympathy being eaten up by apathy?
We need to go back to the drawing board. Burials must be treated with respect. If we are not mindful about the things we do, like recording videos unnecessarily, taking photos of dead bodies all under the disguise of citizen Journalism,we may end up putting those who are grieving into a very deep depression. At the end of it all, they will one day check through their social media platforms again and what will happen if that insensitive video you recorded is the one welcoming them?
Much as burials in our culture attract many mourners, whatever happens there needs to be treated in a private manner. Whatever happens at a burial should remain at a burial. This should be done out of our respect for the grieving family and the deceased.
Our phone discipline in other public spaces will be a rant for another day. It is never too late to change.
