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Emergence of social media, changed the course of history. Many believe that the Internet has aided the democratization of information; anybody may post anything on the Internet and have it heard. The Internet has broken down artificial barriers such as geographical borders and socioeconomic divides and has aided in forming a global community, seamless marketplaces, and common customers.
Role of Media in Social Life
The media plays a significant role in shaping our social lives and how we interact. Previously, media was primarily consumed through traditional television, radio, and print platforms. However, with the proliferation of the internet and social media, the media landscape has changed dramatically, and the role of media in our social lives has also evolved.
Domain of Impact
The social impact of media has been observed in four main domains −
Changing Ways of Interaction
One major change in social interaction is the shift towards online and digital communication. The internet and social media have provided new ways to connect and share information, ideas, and experiences. For example, social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter allow people to create profiles, share content, and connect with friends and strangers worldwide. These platforms have also provided new opportunities for individuals and organizations to reach and engage with large audiences.
There has been an issue of creating a false sense of self on these platforms, which is then reinforced through the validation one gets here. The adolescent population, still in a crucial and malleable stage of development, tends to get drawn to these platforms as they provide escapism from their own complicated lives. This may significantly impact their identity and self-concept. Vijay GarG and colleagues have found that social media use in adolescents is associated with low self-esteem and self-worth.
The anonymity of these platforms is inviting for those who find face-to-face interaction tenuous. However, there is a risk of cyberbullying and delving further into isolation that comes with investing too much in this artificial reality. Researchers found that communication with strangers in chat rooms increased feelings of isolation and dejection and decreased companionship delving further into the isolation that comes with investing too much in this artificial reality. Communication with strangers in chat rooms increased feelings of isolation and dejection and decreased companionship.
Increasing the Amount of Content to Consume
Another change in the role of media in social life is the increase in the amount of content available to consume. The internet has made it easier for people to access and share almost unlimited information and entertainment. This has led to a proliferation of content, including news articles, videos, podcasts, and more, which can be accessed anytime, anywhere. This has led to concerns about fractured attention spans being a symptom of regular social media use. An issue parallel to the abundance of information is one of data privacy.
Through the terms and conditions listed by these websites, one finds an attempt to gather a social media user’s data and sell it to third parties keen on getting their products to the world. The problem is that the average user needs to be aware of this privacy breach and may not actively moderate what they share on these platforms. The issue will be discussed in greater detail in the following paragraphs.
Dwindling Privacy
The issue of data privacy in social media has gained increasing attention in recent years as people have become more aware of the amount of personal information collected and shared online. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter often collect vast amounts of data on their users, including information about their activities, interests, and connections. This data is used to personalize the user experience and target ads to specific audiences.
However, there are several concerns about how social media companies handle data privacy. One concern is that users may need to be fully aware of the extent of the data that is being collected and how it is being used. This can make understanding the potential risks of sharing personal information online difficult.
Another concern is that social media companies may need adequate safeguards to protect user data from unauthorized access. There have been numerous instances of data breaches and other security lapses that have exposed user data to potential misuse or abuse. In addition, there are concerns about how social media companies use data for targeted advertising. Some argue that these companies have too much control over the information presented to users and can create a biased or distorted view of the world.
This phenomenon is often associated with social media, as people tend to follow and engage with accounts that align with their beliefs and views. The problem with echo chambers is that they can contribute to the polarisation of society by limiting exposure to alternative viewpoints. This can make it difficult for people to understand the perspectives of others and hinder the exchange of ideas and the ability to find common ground.
People exposed only to information that aligns with their beliefs may be more likely to accept and believe false or misleading information. This can lead to the spread of misinformation and undermine the credibility of news and other sources of information. In addition, echo chambers can contribute to forming extremist views, as people may be more likely to encounter and engage with extreme or fringe viewpoints. This can increase the risk of radicalization and seriously affect individuals and society.
Conclusion
The media has played a significant role in shaping our social lives and how we interact. The shift towards online and digital platforms and the increased amount of content to consume have created new opportunities for connection and engagement. However, these changes have also raised concerns about their impact on individuals and society.
Vijay GarG Retired Principal Educational columnist malout
1) Travel Companion Books
Vijay Garg
Whenever we read a good book It opens the way to acquire knowledge of new ideas, possibilities and cultures. This quote is from Vera Nazarian. Since childhood, we have been hearing that books are our best friends who teach us like a teacher throughout our life. Like a mother, she supports us in every problem and like a father, she takes the responsibility of showing us the right path in every situation. In fact, it is the knowledge gained from them that builds our personality and makes us better.Life teaches the art of living. Many times many relationships leave us drowning in the midst of the whirlpool, but it is the relationship with books that helps us sail through difficult times by showing us the right path. Books are companions of our sorrow, pain, happiness and loneliness. Not only this, they play an important role in transferring knowledge from one generation to the next. It is a medium through which we can easily know about great personalities, whom we consider as our idols. Sometimes life becomes so monotonous that we feelI don’t even know what we have to do. In such a situation, we get acquainted with those people and get inspiration from these books to follow their footsteps. Books not only shape our personality but also save us from mental problems. Reading is good exercise for the brain. While reading, our concentration increases, due to which we learn to achieve our goals under any circumstances. These keep our brain active. If we keep our brain active then to some extent we can improve our memory.It proves to be effective as a treatment to prevent weakness or depression. Apart from this, if along with reading good books, we adopt the habit of writing within us, then it gives even better results. Nowadays, even doctors use the advice of writing and reading as a method of treatment while treating any major disease, because many medicines often have a side effect that they affect the nervous system. Due to this there is a fear of weakening of memory. In such a situation, the patient is advised to write and read., so that the brain can work actively. Today, with the changing times, the style and appearance of our friend i.e. books has started changing. Where earlier even the sweet smell of books used to leave an impression on our minds while reading them, today books have become digital and fit in our pockets in a small device. However, if someone is physically disabled then it is no less than a boon for them, because they can read and listen while sitting at one place. Apart from this, they are also environment friendly, because it takes hundreds of thousands of rupees to publish them.There is no need to cut trees. By sharing printed books we can strengthen social and family relationships. Books are also a proof that while sharing books with each other, many loving couples shared the message of their hearts through these books. Today, with the help of different platforms of social media, some people express their feelings with just one click. It is another matter that in the virtual world, only ten percent of the people have true hearts and are able to find true love. see alsoIt is known that on these platforms one loses as quickly as one gains. When there used to be love based on books, then after a lot of effort the lovers were able to convey their feelings to their partner. In this method there was a fear whether the book would fall into the hands of the beloved or not and what would be the reaction after reading it. Sometimes keep a rose in the book and sometimes a peacock feather. There are so many such sentiments associated with our books. Even at the last stage of our life, if we keep our books close to our chest, then who knows how manyMemories of unsaid things become fresh. The meaning of books changes with every age. When a child starts reading in childhood, colorful pictures start appearing as his new world. By the time he reaches adolescence, he starts searching for a wealth of knowledge. Then the textbook as well as supporting books help him/her to get good marks. By the time one reaches adolescence, the storehouse of knowledge begins to shape one’s personality. By the time one reaches adulthood, books become a picture of the heart and the world. in old ageThe path to salvation is found through books. In fact, books teach us to walk every day, step by step, from beginning to end. We get knowledge in various fields like social, political, economic and literary only from books. But today, due to commercialism, obscenity has spread in books. Due to which the young generation is getting distracted from the goal. The increasing distance from good books is making us suffer from moral degradation, materialism and narcissistic modernity. Therefore, it is important that every child develops the habit of reading and learning regularly and on his own.Arouse curiosity. While studying, move forward towards your life goals.
Vijay Garg Retired Principal Educational Columnist Malout Punjab
2)
Neglected Elderly Population
Vijay Garg
Even the elders, who were respected in joint families, are forced to live a neglected and lonely life due to changing life values and weakness in earning money. , This problem is faced by about 80 percent of the elderly in the country. NITI Aayog’s report titled ‘Envisioning the Senior Citizen Care Model in India’ states that in 2050, every fourth person in India will be elderly. With the challenge of erosion in social values, there is a need to ensure a respectable and secure future for the elderly in the country.Search is an important responsibility of both the country and the government. The market is predicting employment of youth through ‘startups’ to take care of the elderly population. This is indicative of the future challenges facing the elderly with the decline of social values in the country. 48 percent of the country’s elders are completely dependent on their children for their economic needs. They do not have sources of income. Only 34 percent of the elderly population gets retirement pension. There is also a social assessment that retired officers from class III and IV100% of the pension amount received by the elderly is snatched away by their children for family expenses. Due to the prevailing consumerist culture, sixty percent of the elderly are forced to endure family abuse. Thirty percent of the elderly reach the doorstep of the law to lodge a complaint of family violence after facing extreme harassment. This includes assault, hurt, mental harassment and violence by family or close relatives due to financial constraints. But even in the Indian justice system, these crimes are seen and heard as ordinary crimes.Is. Seventy-five percent of elders living in rural areas are victims of family violence. They do not even get legal protection. Family members take them to work as laborers to earn their living. In case of more than one child, the elders even divide the parents. To give bread for two days, mother comes in one’s share and father comes in the other’s share. In this way, the elderly get daily bread, but the elderly couples who have been living together for years are forced to live a life of separation.Are. State governments, in the name of rehabilitation scheme, provide rural ‘elderly’ men with musical instruments only to form rural bhajan groups. But where the need is more for relaxation along with economic rehabilitation, Bhajan Mandali Yojana has only become a resource to provide dose of corruption to the Gram Panchayats. The government is able to spend only 0.73 percent of the country’s total GDP for better life management of elderly people, out of which 0.03 percent is being spent by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on elderly pension.Operates the plan. In this, the pension amount per person is determined only by the contribution received from the states. In different states of the country, the per person pension amount ranges from Rs 600 to Rs 1200 per month, which is not enough even for ten days of food for the elderly in the era of rapidly increasing inflation. The elderly population in India alone spends an amount of seventy thousand crore rupees every year on their health services and medicines. For treatment they have to wander from one hospital to another and even to many cities. AAccording to a social survey, twenty percent of the pension amount of retired elderly people is spent every month on their health related needs. Whereas 53 percent of the country’s elderly population is forced to spend their savings on regular health expenses. 45 percent of the rural elderly population travels a distance of ten to fifty kilometers from the village due to lack of primary medical care nearby. Senior citizen schemes run at the government level only provide formal sustenance to the elderly belonging to BPL category. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,In Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, a large number of living elders have been declared dead on government papers. Hundreds of such elderly people are forced to make rounds of tehsils and courts to get their survival certificate. The elderly are often victims of harassment even while travelling. An elderly man died at Mumbai airport due to non-availability of a wheel chair. There are innumerable such cases in Railways, when people lost their lives due to lack of first aid or travel facilities during the journey.Had to. Indian Railways has now even stopped the train fare concession given to elderly passengers. While determining the compensation in accidents happening to the elderly, the compensation is determined by assessing the economic utility of the elderly. According to the report of the National Crime Records Bureau, 23.9 percent of the elderly were victims of fraud, robbery and forgery in the country in 2022. Distressed by family reasons and financial constraints, 1518 elderly people committed suicide in the year 2022. According to last reportThere has been an increase of 11.25 percent in crimes against the elderly in one year. Elderly women ranging in age from sixty to ninety years have been victims of crimes like physical abuse and rape. According to the World Health Organization, sixteen percent of Indian women above the age of sixty years are subjected to heinous abuse in public places. According to the ‘India Aging’ report 2023 of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), by 2046, India’s elderly population will become equal to the country’s child population. under fifteen years of age in the countryThere is a rapid decline in the child population. This will prove to create more tension and rift in the family and increase the loneliness of the elderly. The decline in social values creates great concern about the future of the elderly in the country. Arthashastra is exploring the possibilities of a big investment in it saying that this will increase the service industry sector which provides employment to the youth. Under the pretext of helping the elderly, more than 150 employment establishment startups have come into this service sector. year in countryAn investment of approximately Rs 210 crore has been made to create employment in the name of elderly service sector in 2023. The growing old age home culture in India and the loneliness of the elderly, youth leaving home in search of employment and family troubles provide opportunities to this industry. But the developing old age home market in the country attacks the country’s Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam culture.
Vijay Garg Retired Principal Educational Columnist MALOUT punjab
Show quoted text
How to Success in Personal Interview
Vijay GarG
An interview is a formal conversation between the employer and candidate where questions are asked by the interviewer to elicit facts or statements from the interviewee with an intention to check the suitability of the candidate for a particular job.
The job interview is a crucial part of the job search because it’s an opportunity for the employer to figure out if the candidate is the right person for the job or not. There is no doubt that lots of people are really scared to face an interview even if they possess adequate levels of qualification and experience, they still mess up the interview. A job interview can be an excruciating, painful, stressful and awkward hour. Or it can be pleasant, educational, enlightening and successful and this will depend upon your preparation and abilities. The experience of that hour is largely determined by how you spend your time before the interview. If you are ready for your preparation then it will be a pleasant experience, however, if you walk in there without any homework, then you know the rest.
An interview is your first physical impression that you give in to the concerned authorities or the employer taking your interview. Prepare and plan that first impression long before you walk in the door. Continue that excellent impression in the days following, and that job could be yours. There cannot be a specific way to prepare for a job interview and there is no specific syllabus for interview questions. People say that your overall skills are tested and you need not prepare for it, your general ability will be checked in the interview, which is wrong. Though it is correct that in an interview your general ability is checked but along with that your knowledge related to the job is also tested and you do need a thorough preparation before you walk in for the interview.
There is a common question that comes to the mind of every candidate i.e what to prepare for and how? The answer is very simple. You know the post that you have applied for, check out the website of the company to find out the necessary key skills that are required for the post and the kind of work activity that company is involved in and according to the post you applied for, you can prepare for the interview and face it confidently. There is also a great misconception that to secure a job you need to manipulate the facts during an interview, which is absolutely wrong. You just need to speak truth and answer honestly whatever is being asked of you, manipulation may land you in a job that you are incapable of and further lead to tension and wastage of time. Hence prepare well and be true to yourself.
How to Prepare for the Interview?
An interview is one of the very important events of your professional life. These days competition is increasing day by day and it is very important for the candidates to give out their best to secure a job during an interview. Hence, proper preparation is only the way out to secure a job during the interview. To make a good impression at an interview do your research well, rehearse properly and relax. If you have done your best then no one can stop you from being successful. Practice ahead of time with sample questions and different interview styles. One of the best ways to prepare for an interview is to anticipate questions the interviewer may ask. This will allow you to give thoughtful and organized answers during your interview. There may be different kinds of question that are being commonly asked, some of these may either be related to your professional knowledge whereas few questions are aimed to check your general mental ability.
Do your homework well and prepare for all those things that you consider importantly related to the post you are applying for. Learn as much as you can about the opportunity and the interviewing organization. While preparing for the interview try to evaluate your own knowledge, skills, and abilities and think about how you qualify for the opportunity. It is important to find out information about the organization ahead of time so that you can prepare well and come out with flying colours. Check out the website of the company, find out the requirement for the post that you have applied and key skills required. This information can help you to give a clue about what you should prepare. It is very important to practice well before an interview, as the saying goes practice makes a man perfect, and it will give you confidence and a sense of ease when you’re truly in the hot seat at an interview. With a friend or a career counsellor, practice responding with confidence to typical interview questions like:
Your brief introduction
How has your background influenced what you are today
Your definition of success
Reason for leaving your old job
Your worth for the company
What do you have to offer to the organization
Your strengths and weaknesses
About your qualities and achievements
Be ready to answer these types of questions. These are a few questions that are generally asked during every interview and preparing these in advance can give you a lot of self-confidence during the interview. Have your answers prepared well in advance that is clear, concise and truthful. People admire honesty and frankness, which they will judge from your answers. Don’t try to make your answers to long and philosophical, keep it simple and straight. You need no repeat words like “I am honest, hardworking etc.” the way you answer such general questions itself gives an overview of your actual personality. Think about challenges you’ve faced in the past, and be prepared to describe how you dealt with them and what you learned.
10 Useful Tips for Successful Personal Interview
As stated earlier, there is no single way of preparing for an interview. However, there are few tips and tricks that do work out in most of the interviews. These days a lot of companies hire professionals on the basis of their overall personalities rather than just on the basis of academic grades as was done a few years back. The concept is changing, these days there is a lot of competition for good jobs and obviously, this has led to the employers getting choosy and picking up the best candidates. These days apart from your grades and experience there are a lot of other things that matter in your interview. Here are a set of 10 tips that would help you to overcome your fear of interview and at the same time would help you to give out your best.
Research the Organization
An interview is a big occasion for anyone and you should be nervous about it. All that you have studied over the years would finally be tested at the time of the interview. An interview is an event where you are screened properly for a job and your academics, as well as practical levels, are tested simultaneously. However, if you start with some thorough research, you start to build a case in your own mind about why you should be sitting in that interview room or in front of a panel. When you research about the organization you tend to get a lot of knowledge about what the company is dealing with and what all can be your responsibilities there which further helps you in preparing for the interview. Having some confidence is a solid first step to overcoming nerves.
You can search about the information of the company on the internet and at the same time, you can also judge the probability of the questions that would be asked to you during the interview, depending upon the type of operations that the organization is carrying out. The web is such a wealth of facts, but what you need to do, is turn this into useful information. You can look at annual reports, media releases and product and service information. If a career page has an email contact with an employee and invites contact then do it. Often companies will use testimonials that way to attract new people. Use sites such as linked in to research companies.
Research the Responsibilities of the Post Applying for
It is very important to research about the job that you are applying for and the responsibilities associated with that post. A lot of times candidate do not have a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities associated with the job and when asked questions related to those, they are blank. Since a lot of candidates just see the advertisement for the job and don’t look at the details. Though a lot of candidates do not search for the responsibilities very well but still, even job advertisements are partly to blame for this. They are often misleading. The person writing the advert is often not the person that you’ll be reporting to. Things always sound different on paper compared to what you will actually be doing in the role. Hence it is wise enough if you check out for the responsibilities in advance so that you could prepare accordingly.
Once you get an interview call; do check out the career column on the website of the company. It is really important to get a real insight into the role and the recruitment process. Dig deeper than the advertisement. In the career column where the job has been advertised, you can find out very easily the desired skills from the candidate as well as the responsibilities for the job. Make a list of all these, search on net and books thoroughly and gather useful information and be prepared to rock the interview.
Get References and Letters of Recommendation
These days a lot of MNCs need in reference numbers for reference as well as feedback about the candidates. Once you clear in your interview than before giving you joining letter companies do want to be sure that you are the right candidate for their organization. Think of three to four professional associates (i.e., co-workers, former bosses) who you believe will give you a good recommendation. Do inform them about this in advance and ask their permission to use them as references. If they say yes, get their correct title, work address and work phone number. You could also ask them to take the time to write out a general letter of recommendation for future use.
Identify your Key Skills and Accomplishments
During an interview there is a very common question that is asked very often “What are your skills?” or “tell us about your few accomplishments”. Hence it is very important to be ready for the answer. Make a list and be ready to describe your personal and professional strengths, your transferable skills and your relevant accomplishments. Make sure you don’t sound like you are boasting anything. With your research, identify qualities that the company values. Come up with a few personal anecdotes that illustrate your possession of those qualities.
Smartly Crafted Resume
A resume is a document that gives the reader an insight into your academics and professional life and a good resume is very important these days. Prepare a well-crafted resume that gives complete information about you, your academic details, professional details as well as your achievements. Your resume reflects your personality. Be sure that you mention even slightest achievement and quality that can be related to your role in the company.
Practice
Practice makes a man perfect and it is very important to practice well the interview questions that you expect during the interview. Most organizations now use behavioural questions which mean they will be expecting you to provide specific examples of where you have demonstrated the skill they are seeking. Be prepared with such questions and do not hesitate while you answer and maintain a natural flow while you speak. Don’t act as if you have crammed it like an answer from a textbook. Be natural, take proper pauses and maintain regular eye-contact and wear a smile.
Be Yourself
Do not lie about your personality or your abilities. One day or the other this will come to notice of everyone. So in order to save yourself from humiliation, it is advised to be yourself, rather than pretending something or manipulating facts about you. You will be doing yourself no favours if you try and suppress your personality, or pretend to be something that you aren’t.
Formal Clothing
Check head to toe what you’re going to be wearing, these days companies are really serious and observant about small things and casual wear is considered highly non-professional these days. Don’t even think about wearing a casual for an interview. Wear proper formal clothing and impress them well with your personality at first glance. Also, gather all the things you’ll be bringing to the interview: an extra copy of your resume, references, a portfolio, a pad of paper, a pen.
Keep Relaxed
A lot of people mess their interview either because of stress or anxiety. It is very important to approach your interview in a cool and calm manner. While you think this may be the perfect job for you, it may be that it’s not. There are other jobs out there. If you keep this in mind then you’ll remove some pressure from yourself that this is your only chance to perform. If you think the interview is going badly, relax and use it as practice for the next one. You never know you could even recover if you take this approach. Hence, be cool and leave the rest to your abilities and luck.
Ask Questions
In the end, a lot of professional interviewers give a chance for the candidate to clear their doubts if any. This is the time for you to clear your doubts if any. It gives a good impression when you ask about your responsibilities and a few other things related to your job, this shows your seriousness towards the job and your interest as well. It is advised that don’t ask silly questions just for the sake of asking. Ask only if you have some serious query, un-necessary talking is always a negative sign.
Vijay GarG Retired Principal Educational columnist malout
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