In the age of viral noise, silence often carries more truth than words.

Information Overload, Wisdom Blackout

We live in an era overflowing with information, yet starved of comprehension, reflection, and true wisdom. Electronic and social media have made access to information easier than ever before. But alongside this convenience, they have cultivated a troubling mindset: one of repetition, imitation, and emotional frenzy. The pursuit of truth, contextual understanding, meaningful dialogue, and intellectual depth is fading, replaced by a shallow and sensational Digital Rote Culture.

Breaking News, Broken Truth

Too often, journalists air news without investigation. What is heard or seen is rushed onto the screen as “breaking news.” The purpose is not truth but ratings. Such reporting fuels rumor and intellectual pollution. Time and again, reports of celebrity illnesses, deaths, or scandals are later proven false—but by then, the damage has already poisoned public perception.

Anchors in Shallow Waters

Television anchors and commentators often debate issues they do not fully grasp—economic crises, religious nuances, or sensitive social concerns. Instead of analysis, their discussions echo political loyalties, ideological bias, and sheer noise. These platforms, meant to awaken awareness, end up spreading prejudice, confusion, and intellectual stagnation.

Tragedy as Prime-Time Spectacle

The same is true for crime and tragedy. Abduction, violence, and murder are reported with exaggerated intensity, as if society itself were collapsing. Later, facts reveal a different story. Fear and despair spread faster than truth, burdening the collective mind and robbing it of sober analysis.

Most tragic is when disaster strikes—terror attacks, floods, or accidents—and one image or video is replayed endlessly. Thousands share the same footage, until it becomes digital noise. What purpose does such repetition serve? When everyone says the same words, who is left to listen?

Worse still, human suffering is turned into spectacle. Pictures of bloodied bodies, charred remains, and grieving children are circulated in the name of “awareness.” Rarely does anyone pause to ask: what will the mother feel when she sees her child’s body turned into viral content? How will families endure the public display of their private grief?

The FOMO Trap and Mental Health Crisis

Beyond distorted truth, the downside of social media extends into the private chambers of the human mind. The constant exposure to curated lives and filtered images breeds comparison, leading to anxiety, depression, and body image issues. Cyberbullying corrodes self-worth, while the endless scroll fuels addiction, social isolation, and even disrupted sleep.

The platforms that promised connection now deepen loneliness. They propagate FOMO—the fear of missing out—pushing individuals into a restless cycle of checking, posting, and comparing. Attention spans grow shorter, as people skim and scroll rather than reflect and absorb.

The workplace, too, suffers. Notifications and endless feeds fracture concentration, reducing productivity and replacing deep focus with fragmented distraction. Privacy concerns linger like shadows, while misinformation spreads unchecked.

Fast Food News: Bites Without Digestion

In effect, the “fast food” culture of digital news has trained society to crave quick bites (and bytes), devouring headlines without digestion—rushing through drive-through windows of information while starving for substance.

On social media, rote culture thrives in its purest form. People retweet without verification, share uncontextualized videos, and copy-paste slogans as if they were original thought. This is not awareness—it is unconsciousness wearing the mask of awareness.

Ready-made slogans—political chants, emotional claims, or religious catchphrases—are recycled without reflection. They are not born of personal insight but are borrowed templates, weaponized against opponents. Such repetition suffocates original thinking, silences dissent, and stunts the growth of independent consciousness.

Spam: The Digital Pollution

Perhaps the ugliest face of this culture is spam. Messages, images, and videos are forwarded endlessly—often in the name of faith, politics, business, or personal agendas. No one verifies their authenticity, nor considers their consequences. It becomes a form of psychological coercion, pressuring recipients to pass it on. This practice pollutes minds, undermines the dignity of communication, and erodes intellectual freedom.

Society of Spectators

The result is a society where rumors are trusted more than facts, viral content is preferred over research, and shallow expression is mistaken for knowledge. Everyone assumes their post, status, or forwarded video is a mark of awareness—when in truth, it is merely another echo in the digital void.

The Responsibility of the Conscious

In such a climate, the responsibility of a conscious individual is simple yet profound: before sharing anything, ask—

Is this true? Does it serve humanity? Will it deepen awareness or merely spread noise? Will it dignify suffering or turn it into spectacle?

The courage to ask these questions is the first step toward intellectual freedom and conscious awakening.

The Real Power of Digital Media

There is no denying the power of digital media. It offers vast opportunities for knowledge, connection, and awareness. But its true value emerges only when it is used with reflection, responsibility, and compassion. Without truth and integrity, it becomes a weapon of chaos—fueling noise, confusion, and shallow exhibitionism.

In such a world, truth, ethics, and awareness retreat into the shadows, and society itself risks becoming nothing more than a restless crowd of spectators.

In the age of viral noise, silence often carries more truth than words.

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Published under International Cooperation with "Sindh Courier"