Editor,
Technologically speaking, our modern everyday life relies on social media for almost everything, from news to entertainment. We have moved from being uninformed to being fed up with excessive information. From beauty products to concert tickets, everything finds a place on our everyday home feed. Our everyday home feed feels like the notice board we used to have in school and college, where all kinds of content are displayed.
But beyond all these techie titbits, what is notable is the introduction of the “Haha” button by Facebook in 2016. It has created a kind of vague habit where people use it indecisively, especially when they don’t like or don’t agree with someone they interact with online. For instance, if a person from another party posts his party manifesto, others react with laughter simply because it does not align with their own views. When it comes to religious groups, a person may laugh at the preaching of a cleric from another sect or religion just because it is different from his own beliefs. In the same way, a nationalist may laugh at the national matters of another country just because they are rivals in many ways.
In this way, something very small begins to reflect a larger pattern. Social media was initially meant to be a tool that connects people and brings them closer together. I can cite an example from my own usage. I met and made friends through Facebook when I started using it around 2012, and I have known them since then. At that time, I was using a Nokia C1-01 with a small but decent app supported by the now defunct Java OS. That app did not have the overwhelming feed we see today, and there was no “Haha” reaction whatsoever, only a simple Like or Unlike button. Some fellow millennials may describe that time as being “peaceful back then,” and in some sense, that is quite true.
At the same time, it is also true that we are already living in a divided world, a world with different thoughts and opinions. However, social media platforms like Facebook have further widened this gap, even with something as small and seemingly harmless as a reaction button. We no longer read to understand. We react to dismiss. Instead, we open a post or image just to laugh at thoughts that are different from our own. This is more harmful on a psychological and social level than it may appear. If we are not careful enough, we may slowly lose our humanity. The “Doom Haha” can damage it for good, without any doubt. And if we lose our humanness, what is left of us?
We are already living in a stage of time where both social media and the AI bubble are about to burst. In 2025, social media demographics suggested that around 5.24 billion people globally, roughly 63 to 64 percent of the total population, were actively reducing or quitting social media due to various reasons, mostly because of fatigue from algorithm driven feeds and not so exciting new developments. This points to something important. We need social media to socialise, not to divide and mar ourselves as a global community. The future of humanity still lies in our hands. We can only make it better than what we have now. The factors that divide us, if possible, must be eradicated today, so that our children can live in peace tomorrow.
Yours etc.,
Sunrise Pohtam,
Via email
Need for Collective Moral Awakening
Editor,
I still remember how the lady police officer broke down upon seeing the lifeless body of the seven-year-old orphan, Kyrshanbor Kharmudai. It sent chills down our spines and left us struggling to even imagine the suffering that the little one must have endured. At this juncture, the effort and dedication of the Meghalaya Police deserve sincere acknowledgment for their response and commitment to justice.
However, what remains utterly unforgivable is the brutality of the crime and the actions of its perpetrator. Kennedy Khongsit must be brought to trial and face the full force of the law for such a heinous act. Justice in this case cannot be lenient. The law must be firm and uncompromising. It must send a clear message that any crime, especially crimes against innocent children will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
The tragic loss of the life of the young boy, taken away in a moment of anger and rage of an adult, is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of children and the urgent need for greater responsibility of us living in the society. This incident and the brutal killing of the four-year-old Insaphira Lyngdoh Mawnai calls for rigorous enforcement of the law, stronger child protection mechanisms and a collective moral awakening. No child should ever have to suffer such cruelty, and as a society, we must ensure that such incidents are neither forgotten nor repeated.
Yours etc.,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via email
Illegal Diesel burner : A Ticking Time Bomb in Shillong ’s Food Hubs
Editor,
Shillong’s bustling markets, from Motphran to Police Bazar, are the heart of the city’s culinary culture. However, a hidden danger is lurking in their kitchens. On April 2, 2026, the fire at Shaunak Sweets & Snacks served as a grim reminder that some establishments are prioritizing profit over public safety by using illegal diesel burners.
Due to the ongoing shortage of commercial LPG, some vendors have turned to “diesel bhattis.” Unlike LPG, diesel is an industrial fuel not meant for direct cooking. Its combustion releases heavy soot and toxic gases that settle on food and pollute the surrounding air. In a crowded space like Jwain Complex, a single flare-up can lead to a catastrophe.
The use of diesel in commercial kitchens is a blatant violation of FSSAI standards, which mandate a safe, chemical-free environment for food preparation. Furthermore, it violates local environmental norms regarding air pollution and fire safety. The soot produced is not just “dirt”—it is a health hazard that consumers are unknowingly ingesting.
The Meghalaya Food Safety Department must take immediate action. Short-term supply challenges do not justify long-term health risks. Authorities must conduct Surprise Audits and establishments like Shaunak that risk public life must have their trade and food licenses revoked and the heavy penalty must be significant enough to act as a deterrent for others.
Shillong deserves safe food and safe markets. The authorities must act now before the next “ticking time bomb” goes off.
Yours etc.,
Healington Marwein,
Shillong -8
