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Social media offers a unique platform for independent content creators to express themselves freely, experiment with new ideas, and both enlighten and entertain their audiences. This unprecedented freedom of creating and publishing online content has unleashed countless talents, many of whom are now hailed as social media influencers, while social media sites have become readily accessible sources of both information and entertainment. However, the relentless pursuit of making contents viral is now challenging humanity, decency and responsibility.
The obsession with "going viral" is driving many online creators to produce bizarre, fabricated and unethical content. The more ridiculous the content, the more likely it is to attract views, and in today's monetised digital economy views translate directly into income. This incentive structure has driven many online content creators to trivialise danger, undermine social norms, and, most worryingly, harm others, both people and nature.
One such glaring example has recently come to light from the Sherpur forest area, where hundreds of vloggers reportedly throng every day to provoke wild elephant herds solely to capture sensational footage. Reportedly, they throw stones, make loud noises, or otherwise agitate the elephants, hoping to capture dramatic reactions on camera. When the frightened and furious animals charge, the so-called content creators record it and later upload the footage on social media sites. These videos may generate thousands of views, but the consequences are devastating.
The forests in Sherpur, Jamalpur, and the Mymensingh belt once embodied a unique ecological balance, where diverse flora and fauna thrived harmoniously for ages. But today, growing human intervention has severely disturbed this natural equilibrium, leading to serious consequences for nature and people. Wild elephants, already vulnerable due to shrinking habitats, interpret harassment by content creators as a direct threat. So, it is quite natural that elephants will attack the nearby villages, their properties and croplands. When this happens, local residents, their homes and their croplands bear the brunt of this madness in the wilderness.
Reportedly, local residents counterattack elephants to protect themselves. Thus, the irresponsible behaviour of the content creators is pitting men and animals against each other. Action must be taken to bring an end to this hostility between nature and people to protect the forest area from the menace of online creators.
The forest department is entrusted with the task of protecting forest resources and conserving biodiversity. But, as is reported time and again, it has miserably failed to stop killing of wild animals and plundering of resources. Reportedly, the forest department has too few personnel to take action against the large number of vloggers.
This is just one example of the online content creators menace. Recently, some content creators were found forcibly shaving the heads of vagabonds solely to boost their viewership.
This trend also reflects a deeper moral decay. Creative freedom is a gift, but it should come with responsibility. If content creators cannot uphold basic ethical standards, strict legal enforcement is essential. In this regard, Bangladesh can draw lessons from China's recent regulation for online influencers, which requires content creators to have recognised qualifications. This ensures accountability and recognises the real-world consequences of unchecked influence.
A similar framework in Bangladesh could encourage responsible content creation, particularly when public safety, wildlife, or community welfare is at stake. Clear guidelines, stricter oversight, and accountability mechanisms would not stifle creativity but would protect society from the harmful effects of reckless content. As social media continues to shape behaviour and public perception, Bangladesh must balance freedom with responsibility, ensuring digital spaces remain safe, ethical and constructive for all.