An accident happens. Within seconds, people take out their phones. One person records a video, another takes photographs, and someone else uploads the footage online. Before the injured person reaches the hospital, the video may have already gone viral through WhatsApp groups, Instagram Stories, and countless social media feeds. But while everyone is watching and recording, one important question remains: Who helped?
When Recording Replaces Helping
A fight breaks out on the road. A crowd gathers. Some people may call the police or try to stop the violence safely. Others simply stand nearby with their phones raised, waiting for the most dramatic moment.
A house catches fire. People gather outside. Some contact the fire brigade, while others record the flames and describe the scene for their followers.
Someone is injured. Someone is crying. Someone is being insulted or humiliated in public. And somewhere, a camera is recording it all.
There is nothing wrong with recording an incident. A video can provide evidence, expose wrongdoing, or help authorities understand what happened. However, recording should not replace a person’s responsibility to help. When someone is in danger, the first question should not be, “Will this go viral?” It should be, “What can I do?”
From Witnesses to Spectators
Technology has placed a camera in almost every pocket. This has helped ordinary people document injustice and bring important events to public attention. Many incidents that might have been ignored are now seen because someone recorded them.
However, cameras have also changed the way we respond to the world. Today, almost anything can become content. A fight becomes a viral video. An accident becomes breaking news. A person’s mistake becomes a joke. Someone’s humiliation becomes entertainment. The more shocking the scene, the more likely people are to watch, share, and comment on it. In the excitement of capturing the moment, we may forget that real people are suffering.
Imagine seeing someone seriously injured. If a recording is needed as evidence, it may be useful. But if the person needs immediate assistance, then calling for help, finding a doctor, or keeping the person safe should be the priority. A video can show what happened, but it cannot always save the person in front of us.
When Pain Becomes Entertainment
One of the most disturbing parts of this culture is how quickly another person’s suffering becomes entertainment. A public argument may become a meme. A child’s mistake may be edited and shared. A few minutes of embarrassment can remain online for years.
For viewers, it may be just another video. For the person in it, it may become a painful memory that never disappears. Behind every viral clip is a human being. They have a name, a family, and a life beyond the few seconds we see on our screens. Their pain does not end when we scroll to the next video.
The family watching their home burn is experiencing fear and loss - not providing entertainment. Their worst moment should not become someone else’s opportunity to gain views.
Content creation is not wrong. Social media can educate people, spread useful information, support important causes, and bring communities together. The problem begins when the desire for attention becomes more important than kindness, privacy, and human dignity.
Not every moment needs to be shared. Not every experience needs an audience. And witnessing someone’s life does not automatically give us the right to publish it.
The Business of Attention
Social media platforms depend on our attention. The longer we watch, click, like, and share, the more valuable we become to advertisers. This is why shocking videos often spread so quickly.
Accidents, fights, and humiliating moments can attract millions of views. That raises an important question: Are platforms doing enough to prevent human suffering from becoming entertainment?
Technology companies influence what appears on our screens. They decide which posts are recommended, promoted, or removed. Their responsibility is not only to increase engagement but also to protect people from harm and exploitation. Users also have a duty to make thoughtful choices. Before sharing a disturbing video, we should ask whether it informs the public or simply spreads someone’s pain.
Respond Before You Record
Next time you see someone struggling, pause before reaching for your phone and ask yourself, "Is there anything I can do to help?"
When something shocking happens, resist the urge to immediately turn it into content. And before sharing someone else's embarrassment or pain, ask whether it serves any useful purpose-or simply adds another view.
We must remember that a person in trouble is not a piece of content. Sometimes, the most important thing we can do is put the phone down and step forward. Perhaps one of the most important skills in the digital age is knowing not only how to use technology, but also when not to use it.
Because one day, the person lying injured on the road could be us. The person being humiliated could be someone we love. The family standing helplessly outside a burning home could be our own. And in that moment, we may not care how many people are watching, recording, or sharing.
We may simply hope that someone notices.
Someone cares.
Someone puts their phone down, steps forward, and says:
“I’m here. Don’t worry. How can I help?”
Degree of Thought is a weekly community column initiated by Tetso College in partnership with The Morung Express. Degree of Thought will delve into the social, cultural, political, and educational issues around us. The views expressed here do not reflect the opinion of the institution. Tetso College is a NAAC-accredited, UGC-recognised Commerce and Arts College. The editorial team includes Tenipumei Phom, Asst. Professor Dept. of English, Limajungla Walling, Asst. Professor Dept. of Linguistics, and Munkiri Taro, Multimedia Executive. For feedback or comments, please email: dot@tetsocollege.org
