We are growing impatient…

Today as I was scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed, I realized how fast I was scrolling through all the posts. I couldn’t wait long enough to read and appreciate anything, everything appeared so different, so same. There was an unnatural sense of impatience within me. A strange hurry to reach somewhere, an improper need to look at something. Then I began thinking why it happened.

It seems the whole of humanity is becoming impatient (yes, that’s too big a statement to make) and very few realize. Any information you need is just a Google search away, any news is just there waiting for you in your notification tray. One has forgotten how to wait. There is a sense of urgency to be the first one to upload a status regarding that India’s victory or be the first one to share that funny picture among one’s friends. There is always an unnecessary urge of being first, of bringing the most no. of likes, of getting noticed.

This hurry at times keeps us highly occupied, because the recognition doesn’t last, it melts away as soon as it comes, it keeps us wanting more and more like an unquenchable thirst. It keeps on scavenging. The only time we bear the patience is when we are in the theatre watching a movie, never otherwise.

I realize at times that people don’t like reading. In fact most of the people who have reached till here might not have read each and every word and understood its purpose. No, it’s not that I am forcing you but I just want to make you realize that its happening. We are growing impatient, which is not a good sign.

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Its no harm if you could share this piece and spread the word…

Facebook Reactions: a hit or a miss?

It has been years since Facebook invented the ‘Like’ button. It became Facebook’s standout feature which was wholeheartedly copied by almost every social-networking site. Twitter came up with ‘Favourite’ button, Instagram with the ‘heart’ button. And how commonly we all say “Hey, how many likes did your pic receive?”

image courtesy: mashable.com

But then Facebook has now realized that though they have the largest set of users, most of them are not engaging actively on its platform as much they are on other sites like Instagram, Snapchat, etc. This called for a change and they brought in Reactions. As you hold the like button, you find a group of options, animating, showing every mood from happy to sad to angry. When I first saw it, I found myself actually smiling. ‘This is something really new’ I thought in my head.

Indeed it seems revolutionary. Facebook knows that engagement of the users is going to rise. But the fact that one has to actually hold onto the like button to see all the reactions is something that yet many users are not aware of. And its very evidently visible that this is targeted mostly to  the smartphone audience.

The reactions animating.

Another intuiting point is that all those reactions have a human face. By this an instant connect happens. In my case I certainly know if I think the post is something that I would like (E.g anyone’s profile pic) or am I gonna laugh at it (e.g A troll pic by 9Gag or something).

In the end I feel that these reactions were the need of the hour. It gives options, it increases engagement with the user and at times instead of commenting “haha” on a pic, we have the option to choose the laugh reaction. I, personally, feel its probably what facebook was missing and reactions certainly improve the user experience.

Have your say in the comments 🙂

Why I won’t change my facebook pic to the French flag

There are millions of facebook users who are changing their display picture, even as we speak, to the colours of the French flag. What does it signify? I know you would say it symbolizes your support to the victims of the horrendous attacks by the Islamic State. But then why only symbolize your support to Paris and why not to Beirut or Kenya or in every colour which gets tainted. Why only the French Colours?

Just a day before the Paris attacks two suicide bombers killed 43 people and wounded around 250 people in the Lebanese capital. But did then Facebook even cared to look at it? Did it even came in the news, except remaining a flashing headlines on the bottom of your television sets? Is it because Facebook and various news channels considers Lebanon nothing more than a third world country?

In April 2015 four gunmen killed 147 people in a Kenyan University and injured several others. Why didn’t then Facebook brought out such a show to present sympathy and support to those victims? Is their life not worth changing your Facebook DP? Does Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t consider their pain as much as the Paris attack victims? Why this injustice?

Yes, Mr. Zuckerberg this is absolutely wrong and I register my disagreement by not changing my picture and making you understand that every life is equally important, whether it is that of a child drowned in the Syrian refugee crisis or a victim of a shootout in a developed nation…

(Image Courtesy: Facebook)

Dislike button of Facebook (Part-1)

Recently Mark Zukerberg, founder of Facebook, confirmed that they are working on a potential alternative to the ‘Like button’ after hearing years of appeal from the users of the world’s biggest social networking site. Here I will be exploring the merits and demerits of the ‘Dislike’ button (as it might be known from now on wards) which will be in hands of every facebooker in sometime. Initially in this part-1 I will be exploring what demerits the dislike button might bring.

A dislike button which is coming up with a purpose to give power to the people to express their unhappiness with a certain post can actually make people anti-social. The perpetual aim of giving many emotions in the hands of people virtually will indeed further make the community more involved virtually rather than in reality.  We will all be living in the fear why that friend dislike the post, if he/she didn’t like it then they should have said it on my face!

Another major issue that is already a concern is CYBER-BULLYING. These days we have seen how bullying among school kids has grown many folds where a particular kid is targeted by a group of his friends while he tries to ignore but grows too much conscious of his online presence. All this also leads to anxiety and fear in the child’s mind about posting a particular thing he likes. The fact if my post will be appreciated by other or not will now be transformed into I hope not many will dislike my post. This will become a serious concern.

A major point that I want to cover is the fact that there is absolutely no need for the dislike button. Facebook gives you the power to unfollow people or simply ignore them if a certain post is disliked by you. Then why is there a need for the dislike option? Does facebook wants to spread so much negativity or want more clashing among its users by adding the dislike button?

Wait for my next article where I explore why Facebook might hit the right cords by the correct application of the dislike button.