Exclusive: Kashmir Le Lo; Chai Wala De do!

Like it or not, since the last decades, social media has acquired the power to drive journalism. It is steering the vehicle conveniently sitting in the driving seat. Chai Wala hysteria is an example of how social media is trying to dictate our journalistic choices. The digital platforms are increasingly exploiting our emotion and trying to create a link between our emotional choices and our journalistic needs.  With every minute passing our newsfeeds are driven by our personal emotions, our choices of words, conversation with our friends, and comments on our timeline posts.

Recently, the most prolific platform for journalism and everything else i.e the Facebook has changed its newsfeed algorithm. Now we are offered more and more personal stuff instead of a general interest newsfeed like traditional newspaper media on our cellular screens. With Whatsapp changing privacy policy, it is clear Facebook is forcing Whatsapp users to hand over their data to Facebook clients to be used commercially. It is obvious that other social media platforms would be eager to follow this role model. Snapchat is also moving in the same direction. It is putting personal stories before the popular stuff by popular media. Viber has also announced a new set of regulations recently.
And this is true that some of us may like to get news and journalism through our social feeds but many of us have often a different social circle which doesn't represent their intellectual or personal choices. So, in that case, one would like to choose a news feed that revolves around the issues not particularly important to his or her social circle.

So when Facebook and other platforms driving our journalism choices, they are often not relevant. These forced news feed contents do not necessarily fit our journalistic needs or even our digital lives.  This is almost dictating our digital lives. But let me confess, they are quite successful in implementing their strategies.

It is becoming increasingly evident that forced trending approaches are somewhat fixed. Take for instance the case of Tahir Shah, the legendary Pakistani singer who was made popular on Twitter. India times, BBC, even Washington Post and then obviously Dawn published articles and interviews about this Twitter sensation because of the overwhelming support he got by unknown Twitterati. There were Tweets from Indians which said, "Take our Nuclear program, our Missiles, and everything but give us Tahir Shah ." And with just 49 K, this so-called singer was being made a celebrity around the world overnight.  Based on his hashtag trending BBC called him a 'social media frenzy.' He has never been invited to popular morning shows and TV channels. Nobody in Pakistan knows him. Forgive me if I am wrong because I had never heard of him until my editor assigned me to write about this hot excitement which rivals Bollywood and Hollywood. Nevertheless,  he was made no. 3 social media trending sensation in the world and number 1 in Pakistan and India after the release of his song 'Angel Angel' in 2016.

The same is happening with Chai Wala. This fortunate and unfortunate guy who lived a miserable but honest life has been made Yousuf of Kanaan. 'Kashmir le lu, Chai Wala De do,' says an Indian Tweet, probably from a girl. Let me ask one single question, is it not social media that is driving this chai wala hype? and isn't it forcing journalism to leave significant issues concerning to Pakistan and hysterically discuss Chai Wala only because he has stirred Indian Twitterati?   I will humbly request Pakistani journalistic community, kindly take control of Pakistani Journalism landscape. Do not leave it on Indian Twitterati or cyber Jannat.

Media Bites Editorial - Tazeen Hasan