How Are Popular Social Media Trends Contributing To The Deterioration Of The Environment?
Generally there are a lot of social media trends quickly falling and rising with the passage of time. This is normalized in a bid for more popularity and topping the algorithm of most social media networking sites.
However, it is a valid concern to think about the short term and long term impacts these trends have on the environment. Whether it is in the form of makeup trends where they mass buy dozens of makeup products only to ultimately dump them as waste in landfills or water ways where chemicals may accumulate or they may simply be a more general and obvious waste such as discarding large amounts of plastic for a YouTube video project.
Also check out related article: Pakistani Vlogger Influencers and Their Low Quality Makeup Products
It is easy to see how the internet can greatly contribute to the internet pollution phenomenon where one act inspires another to follow suit in the name of “Social Media Trends”.
Negative Impacts Of Social Media Trends On Environment:
Some of the trends that have become popular across social media are listed below:
- Plastic Wrap Trampoline: This became a very popular idea that was copied by many in turn to have their own trampoline in the backyard. It involved the use of 100 layers of plastic cling film in the woods or in nay open space that would make it firm and durable enough to bear the weight of a person. While this may seem fun, however many do not stop to realize the impact this may have on the environment. As it is plastic film, many rolls of it would need to be bought in order to complete the 100 layers. That is a lot of plastic and will only end up in dump soon enough after a few weeks due to wear and tear of the material. Also considering the fact that not only is this unsustainable but such mass consumption of plastic and filming it has since lead to more people buying cling film. This definitely contributes to Plastic pollution.
- Exotic Animals as Pets: There was a trend of keeping endangered and ‘exotic’ animals and birds as pets a while back. Usually well-off people considered this as a status symbol of having something most people only ever saw in pictures. However, whatever the reasoning may be this trend was extremely harmful for not only the creature that was kept in conditions unfit for it with no proper care provided but also effected the future of the entire species since it was often a very rare animal. By the time animal rights activist started raising voice against this cruel practice many such people stopped flaunting on social media and removed their video posts from the internet. However, it is highly likely that some people may still be keeping in secret.
Also check out: Exotic Pets And Their Impact On The Environment Of Pakistan - Backyard Mud houses and Pools: The creation of mud houses and pools in one’s backyards was perhaps the most popular trend in the last couple of years. The excavation of land and soil from backyards for constructing these mud houses and pools are leading to land degradation, unstable land foundations for future use but could also potentially be destroying microhabitats of tiny living creatures. The natural landscape is completely altered and many do not realize the long term impacts it can have on the environment.
You may also be interested in: 10 Simple Ways You Can Raise Awareness About Climate Change - Home-Based Scientific Experiments: large-scale, chemical and home-based scientific experiments in backyards or nature in general are done to justify that no harm is being caused. However the use of chemicals and metals that react vigorously; even explode in some cases do have a negative impact on the environment. If anything at the very least they contribute to particulate matter pollution and green house gas emissions in to the atmosphere. There is also always the risk of trees catching fires, animals and floral vegetation being hurt or wounded. And since chemicals are being used their natural regenerative capacity to heal themselves may greatly be impaired. These experiments in nature should not be normalized and carried out by amateurs. A lab is a perfect place for it.
- Cute Animal Videos: These videos are posted under the guise of cute videos of people ‘playing’ with their pets but what is actually happening is straight up animal abuse. Many did not consider this as a problem until their pets started to show signs of abnormal behaviors’ such as cats scratching windows, owners’ faces when they came near to them, destroying furniture.. Parrots losing their voice due to over exertion or simply stopping any activity normal to birds. These and many more were detected by Vets who diagnosed this as a problem. Thankfully, many people have now started to take this seriously and address this problem.
Also check out: Animal Abuse by Pakistani Social Media Celebrities
Related: Animal Abuse In Pakistan And What Can Be Done About It?
CONCLUSION:
These are some of the many more ever changing trends that keep making come backs thanks to social media. However, it is our responsibility to make sure that the pets we keep are capable of surviving the conditions we are able to provide for them. It is a responsibility to keep pets as animals and birds have their own rights. Moreover, keeping in mind that our every activity no matter how harmless it seems may have a latent impact that we may not immediately see.
Depending on its use, social media can make or break a cause. It can result in benefiting the environment by raising awareness, educating people as well as positively influencing via positive trends such as tree plantations etc. On the other hand it can also negatively impact at the hands of few individuals for leisure that can start a chain of events in the form of “trends” that have no economical or environmental benefits.
You may also be interested in: Digitalizing Tourism Industry in Pakistan – Trends, Challenges and Recommendations
Also check out: Are Zoos A Necessary Evil For Species Conservation?
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