Social media and COVID-19 in Manipur

Sonia Meitram
The role of media during disaster or pandemic is to educate the people, transmit information about the affected areas and to facilitate discussions about the preparedness of the disaster. Considering the present scenario,nationwide lockdown to avoid spreading of coronavirus, we are not allowed to move outside our home, it is through mass media that Government offices are disseminating information.Social media has also played an active role in spreading information. Why should one wait for the 8 o’clock or 9 o’clock prime time news when one can get all the information by clicking on a button?
We are living in the era where one can watch anything on their smartphones starting from news to movies to soaps and serials anytime and anywhere. In the midst of all these, there are few people who are trying to circulate fake news or half-baked news without even confirming the authenticity of the news. Some do it knowingly while others do it unknowingly and in that process, it created panic and hatred and nothing else. And it is the responsibility of every human being who is using social media to act responsibly before sharing any story ahead.
It’s undoubtedly true that social media has played a crucial role in spreading awareness and knowledge about public health. However, it has also been misused for spreading fake news, hatred and creating racism during this time of epidemic creating unrest among the citizens. Before the first report of COVID-19 in India was detected, panic was already created through the platform of social media. Such panic led to hoardings of food items, sanitizers, handwash, and masks etc. We also came across of fake claims that the virus is airborne and it can survive on different surfaces. The first case of the Coronavirus pandemic in India was reported on 30 January 2020.
Many people started using different types of masks such as N95, surgical masks, and mask made up of simple cloth without any filters. It is indeed a good step that people have started using masks. However, they were not aware of which one is more appropriate to use. And talking about the disposal of used masks it seems nobody is aware of it. Even I personally came across of masks being thrown away on road after use.
As of 28 May 2020, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have confirmed a total of 86,110 active cases with 67,692 recoveries and 4531 deaths in the country. The recovery rate of India is 42.75%. The total confirmed cases of coronavirus in India is 1,58,333 (pib.gov.in. posted on 28 May 2020 by PIB Delhi)
We are in the 5th phase of lockdown. Manipur was declared as the Green Zone during the third phase of lockdown by the Government of India. Earlier, there were two cases reported in Manipur and both of them have been declared negative by the Health Department, Government of Manipur.
However, with the coming of new people who were left stranded in different parts of the country, mostly students and people working in private sector, Manipur has started facing new positive cases. As of 28 May 2020, Health Department, Government of Manipur have confirmed a total of 53 active cases with 5 recoveries in the State. The total confirmed cases of coronavirus in Manipur is 58. (Health Department, Govt. of Manipur. Press release no.51, COVID-19 Common Control Room, 29 May 2020 11am)
As the number of positive cases of Coronavirus keeps on increasing in Manipur, a question worth questioning is coming up: Why Northeast Indians are not tested for Coronavirus in that respective State where they were left stranded because of the lockdown? Is it because of the lack of testing kits in that respective State? Is it an example of racial discrimination?
It is true that Manipur have loss the Green Zone status. Many people have expressed their opinions regarding this. Some said it is indeed a good step of the Government of Manipur for making arrangements and letting them come back to Manipur. People who are stranded in various parts of the country are mostly students and employees in private sector.
When the number of positive cases increases in Manipur, yet again our ‘keyboard warriors’ started giving their unsolicited advice. Many have commented on social media like ‘Why don’t the Government send money to their respective bank accounts and let them stay there?’ Well, if one is denied to purchase the basic necessities and are harassed mentally everyday then how can one stay there. Sometimes, money cannot give us everything that we needed. It is not an easy task for the parents or the families of the one who are left stranded outside to eat and sleep when their own children are hungry. After all, Manipur is their home. And even the Government is taking up all the necessary precautions to prevent the virus from spreading.
When the first positive case of Manipur was reported on 24 March 2020, netizens started sharing the picture of the patient. Most of the people are not aware but the family of the patient could have registered a defamation case against those. Many people started abusing her for being negligent. Many ‘keyboard warriors’ started to share irrelevant things about the patient. I came across a jingle which is now playing as a caller tune in every mobile network. It says, “As our nation fights Coronavirus remember that we are fighting the ailment, not the ailing. Please take care of those affected. Do not discriminate against them.” It’s a 30-seconds long information audio clip. It is clearly mentioned that we should not discriminate and outcast the ailing person. We should show them our support.
The power of media is incomparable. Media can manipulate an individual or a society very easily. We tend to believe whatever is shown in the media. As we are living in the age of social media, it’s easy for somebody to click a picture and post it on their Facebook account. And within seconds it will become a sensation in the internet. In order to check and prove the authenticity of the news, it is the responsibility of the media person/journalists to probe into the matter. If a media person/journalists or a media house denied to report the news then nobody will get to know about the fact of that particular incident or the issue and people will believe what has been fed into their mind.
Lastly, we should always remember too much of anything is not good for health. Due to the nationwide lockdown, we are becoming more dependent on the internet. We should remember whatever is shown in the internet is not always true. There are some posts which do create havoc and panic in the society. We should also remember that optimum uses of social media affect the human relationship, it consumes our time and most of all it effects our opinions and thoughts. One wrong click and the house will be burned down in seconds, and it would not take much time to reach our home.
About the author: PhD Scholar, Centre for Manipur Studies, Manipur University