The Dark Side of Social Media: A Cautionary Tale

The world of the internet we are living in is full of glamour, likes, fame, beauty, profit, and everything else we could think of. But every coin has a flip side… Social media is as soothing as rain but is also as fatal as a storm. This storm has claimed the life of Misha Agarwal, a great content creator and an aspiring law student. 

The storm, which comes silently under all the bliss of the digital age with promises of connection and opportunities, is beyond the understanding of human perception. Her demise does not remain as a private tragedy but rather as a wake-up call for all those who have traversed the pressures surrounding the online world and have felt worthless. 

Validation Becomes a Burden in Social Media

Many young Indians today will relate to the story of Misha. Just like so many others, her life was all about her online identity. It was a constant chase for likes, followers, and some digital applause that turned into a disease-like anxiety and despair. As per her family, her drop of Instagram followers shattered her fragile confidence and self-worth to such levels that she fell into a deep, dark pit of depression from which she kept struggling to come out until she couldn’t.

This is not an isolated case at all. Social media platforms are built to addict us and shower us with dopamine for every like and comment. What happens when that applause goes away? Those very same platforms that pretended to see us quickly become avenues of loneliness, self-doubt, anxiety, and depression, especially for teenagers and young adults.

Think More of the Mind Than the Profile

The person behind every profile has dreams, skills, and a life other than in the digital sphere, and this shouldn’t be forgotten at any cost. It is our responsibility towards ourselves for our own good to acknowledge our skills, value our things, and remember that there is a world beyond social media. 

Misha is so much more than her follower count – she holds a law degree and was heading for a bright future in the judiciary. However, online validation sucked the life out of her real-world achievements. An emotional message from her family reminds us all to find balance and perspective in a world where our worth seems to be staked on numbers represented on a screen.

 

To All Influencers: Your Mental Health Matters

If you're a student or an aspiring professional or an influencer, learn from Misha’s story. Social media is a powerful platform for learning, earning, and connecting, but it should never be used to measure anyone's worth. Work on building personal relationships, developing your talents, and honing your professional skills. Your value comes from who you are and what you do, not how many followers you claim online. 

 

Ask yourself, would you let a stranger's opinion mold your future? Should a temporary loss of online popularity dictate your happiness? No is the only answer.   

Take Good Care of Yourself: You Are More Than Your Online Presence

“Take care” is the simple message that Misha's family hopes we may all heed: In a world crazed with digital validation, the mental well-being of self is very important. Take a break from social media, ask for help when needed, and always remember to take some steps back and breathe. A good mental state is integral to living a good life, something that likes and followers could never replace.

Let us learn and change.

May Misha Agarwal be remembered by us as a person who would like us to be more kind, supportive, and present while living online. Rest in peace, Misha. Let's take a pledge that we will uphold one another, speak openly about mental health, and never allow digital numbers to assess our worth in the real world.

Social media should be a portal of kindness and support along with opportunity and growth, rather than one of trouble or pain. Always remember that your life, aspirations, and happiness are ten times more valuable than any metric put forth by social media. And if you or anyone you care for doesn't know where to find help, ask for it. You are not alone.