Dr P V Bhandary, Psychiatrist
Udupi, Jun 27: There's a new disease that seems to be fast spreading, and I call it UUUT. It may not be deadly or even harmful to health literally, but it can have far-reaching impact if not controlled.
What is it? Nothing but spreading false rumours and false news via WhatsApp and Facebook.
The recent tragedy at Trasi in Kundapur where eight children died while travelling in an overloaded Omni, which collided with a speeding bus has caught all eyes. Unfortunately, when the whole world was mourning, we get a WhatsApp/Facebook message as follows:
"Kundapur. accident case-
Plz Plz Plz Plz Fwd this
Msg urgently.. atleast to
10 frnds.. I am also
forwarding.. A Baby
Needs AB-ve Blood
Immediately.Contact
7036325803
9666914994
9663228184
9542025814
9972669722
Don't Delete.......... Ur
Small SMS Will Sav a
Child"
And the whole of WhatsApp groups forwarded this to each other and a few good Samaritans called up the number which requested for blood. The host of numbers were all found to be hoax. A few of them were smart enough to call up the hospital, only to find that no blood was actually required.
That's not all. Within hours of the tragedy we saw people known to children travelling in the Omni sharing photos of the deceased, and later realising that one of the girls who was claimed as 'dead', was very much alive and recovering in a private hospital. Then we saw gory photos of dead bodies of these children shot as they were being rescued.
Now what is this new phenomenon? I see it as an unhealthy, unsafe use of technology - let me call it UUUT - A disease of the next generation. A disease to watch out for. It has a plethora of symptoms:
1) Spreading false news.
2) Defaming people whom you do not like.
3) Propagating one's narcissistic tendencies.
4) Obsession with 'selfie'.
5) Showing one's anger via statuses and display profile.
6) Blocking or de-friending people to show anger.
7) Getting intoxicated with online games or online chatting.
Today I shall write only on two symptoms - spreading false rumours and sharing false statuses.
What is the cause?
1) Genetic factors? Too early to comment as this UUUT as a disease has been noticed only recently. We need to examine the family history as we see kids coming to us with this disease.
2) Environmental factors:
a) Peer pressure - 'Friends do it, so I should not lag behind'
b) Model - All societal models do it, so we do it
c) Easy availability and accessibility of the tools - camera, social networks, cheaper internet packs
3) Personality factors: Impulsive nature, wanting to be centre of attention; being anti-social.
Effects of the disease
UUUT effects the sender as well as the reciever, as well as society. The sender gets into an obsessive phenomenon where he has to send messages or forwards, or has to share some status. He has the intense craving to share or forward a message. He feels restless if he is not able to do it, feels angry, irritable; his social functioning is restricted to 'virtual' society many a time. His occupational functioning becomes slow as he is into full time search for messages and statuses. In other words, he becomes a BEHAVIOURAL ADDICT.
And what about the reciever? He may not know what is true and what is false. He is confused as to whether to believe or disbelieve messages. Weak hearted people, aged or children may succumb to sudden shock.
Impact on society: Already enough 'rot' is spread by 'fringe' parts of media or media run by fundamentalist groups, and a lot of fear, anxiety is generated in society. To add to this, the UUUT spreads unnecessary confusion in society, creating havoc in the minds of the public, creating 'emergency' where there is no emergency.
Treatment
Any disease needs to be treated at the earliest to prevent it from becoming epidemic. Treatment is at the individual level as well as societiel level.
Individual level: The person should introspect and learn that 'technology' is a double-edged sword - safe, scientific use of technology is a must. If he is not able to do it, he may be suffering from a disease called BEHAVIOURAL ADDICTION. He needs to consult a clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist who will advice medications or behaviour therapy.
Societal treatment: We need to complain to police, probably as a preventive strategy against such news. It is not difficult to trace the originator of such mischief. With the existing technological advancements and the existing cyber criminal laws, we can take care of such behaviours. Once it is effectively done it acts as a detterent.
Preventive measures:
1) Don't give cell phones to adolescents.
2) Limit use of cell phones ourselves.
3) Have an app which tells you the time spent on social networking sites.
4) Rational and critical thinking on topic before sharing it.
5) Self-imposed censoring before posting or writing on social media.
6) Self-binding ethics for social media like beneficence and nonmaleficence.
I end with a note that the construction, evolution and dissemination of this new disease that I have coined UUUT needs to be curbed, otherwise a day will come when technology surpasses humanity.