Social media has really reformed the way of communication over the years. In fact, it is now almost accepted as the only way of communicating with each other. With the rise of smartphone users, there is an obvious growth of depending on applications to stay in touch rather than just making a call. WhatsApp alone which facilitates messaging, calling and video calling has so many users. We are now more app-dependent which gives us a feeling of being self-dependent. Think about it.

Think of the era when mobile phones were a luxury than a necessity. When we did not have access to Facebook, Twitter or the other networks, we were still getting information about what’s happening, only the time frame was different. In a serious situation, people could still know what is happening, being cities away. We could make a few calls and get a valid information than now searching trends on Twitter and probably going through some fake posts and believing them! Today while the urgency of the situation is important, it also gets compromised for the sake of giving out information. Something irrational can be widely shared on a single click today, without checking its authenticity.

Forget about the bigger social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, the subsidiary WhatsApp essentially meant for messaging as a way of communication, has taken the same place as the big giants. Statistically speaking, India is the largest market for WhatsApp with over 200 million monthly active users as of February 2017. Talking specifically about our multi-lingual country, the messaging app gives an option of supporting 10 Indian languages! People now share everything from good morning messages to a missing report on the messaging application. Given each person’s contact list, the information gets dispensed further and the chain continues. Something that was shared 2 years back could still be looping in some group chat today, you never know! The application has been introduced several new features for the user’s benefit. But then again, are they really beneficial?

You use google maps to find your way to reach somewhere but when you are just about to reach the destination, you will still ask a person around for the landmark, just to be sure. In times where the internet doesn’t support, you rely on the locals to help you with ways. Years back there was no location sharing option, but you still knew where exactly you’d to meet someone. You will wave back to the stranger, give a smile or say, ‘Thank you.’ And you retain that human touch. Back then, you knew which right to take and which signal to avoid. Do you really need maps to reach? In the larger picture, do you need to check Twitter trends to know what is happening?

There is no denying that social media has eased our lives, but it has also complicated the entire socializing by including things which we were not even aware of. From staying in touch to instead moving away from people you are supposed to stay in touch with, how much of social media has helped you? Think about it, do you type numbers on your dial pad more now or just WhatsApp it to the other person?

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 21, 2018 12:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).