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Saudi Arabia murdered more than 330 individuals in 2024 alone, human rights estimates suggest. And in this, the execution of a reporter for tweets is no exception—it's a message, writes Edinbox senior scribe Nibedita.

Journalism is not terrorism. A tweet is not treason. And Turki Al-Jasser should have lived to pen many more of them.

In an era where a single blog can be used to magnify truth or opposition, journalism and treason are becoming indistinguishable from each other—at least in Saudi Arabia. The recent beheading of journalist Turki Al-Jasser on charges of spreading his opinions on the internet has left the world of journalism and the universe of human rights gasping in its aftermath. It is not only a haunting tale of power abuse, but a sort of amnesia at how totalitarian regimes still view speaking truth to be punished as a crime.

Al-Jasser, an old journalist in his late 40s, was picked up in 2018. His offense? Tweets criticizing corruption, women's rights, and the threat that militant groups posed—most of them tweeted anonymously. Human rights organization Reprieve says he was tried in secret and sentenced to death, whose sentence was recently carried out. His offense, they claim, was "just journalism."

This case frighteningly recalls the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist murdered within the Saudi consulate in Istanbul—a killing American intelligence believes was sanctioned by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The international outcry at the time was so promising. But seven years on, not much has changed. If anything, the room for dissent has narrowed further.

The Saudi government still functions under the cover of anti-terrorism, employing lax legislation to muzzle criticism. From a Bank of America staff member imprisoned for a tweet he deleted to dual citizen U.S.-Saudi Saad Almadi found guilty for tweets because he had been resident in the U.S., it is apparent that speech online is being criminalized—even retroactively.

Turki Al-Jasser was not a criminal. He was a responsible journalist, who defied silence in an arena where silence is dictated by weapons. The fact that his trial was held in secrecy, where nobody knows anything about it, indicates the institutionalized erosion of transparency.

This is not only a Saudi problem. This is an observation of how the world still facilitates such regimes with silence and transactional foreign policy. When governments and corporations value transactions more than human rights, they enable authoritarianism.

Hate comments have now become a rampant phenomenon in the digital era disrupting the lives of the people, society and even national discourse. But why? Do you know what triggers them to post hate comments? Recent studies and psychological researches give a unique and fact-based insight into the psychology of online hate, and discloses a complicated interrelation of individual characteristics, social influences and loopholes in the regulation.

Why do People Post Hate Comments?

1. Emotional Frustration and Jealousy: It has been found that hate comments are posted by individuals who become frustrated and envious when the personal objectives or ambitions are not achieved. As an example, when India’s Got Latent was called out by the court, people started to post hate comments and abusive comments on the post of judges along with the core team. This trend is not unusual, public figures, celebrities, and even regular users become targets in case their followers are disappointed or jealous.
2. Exposure and Desensitization: In a fMRI study published in 2023, it was shown that desensitization to hate speech repeated exposure can decrease empathy, which in turn increases the possibility of the individual conducting such treatment. This compassion collapse translates to the fact that individuals become desensitized to the suffering of others in life, particularly subjects belonging to the perceived outsiders or outgroups.
3. Social Contagion and Group Process: Hate speech is contagious. When hateful speech becomes an accepted way of communication within people's online environments, they are more likely to engage in them. Group dynamics further support this because projecting hate may get to be an approach of sharing the idea that one is loyal to a specific group or community. 

The Mentality of Hate Commenters

According to a seminal research published in Frontiers in Psychology, those who write hate comments online are frequently so psychopathic that they possess the character trait of egocentricity, lack of sympathy, and moral depravity. Although other characteristics (such as envy or narcissism) may be used, psychopathy was identified as the most reliable predictor of online hate.

The perceived anonymity of the internet reduces social inhibitions, and one can express hate without fear of offending them in real life. This so-called online disinhibition effect promotes individuals to utter things that they would never have said face to face.

Some post hate messages in an attempt to express anger, establish dominance or gain a sense of power where they feel powerless. This may be encouraged by the immediate response loop of likes, shares or replies.

What is the Government Doing?

Hate comments have a severe and broad range of physical and psychological effects, such as mental illnesses, bullying, and physical violence, yet there is little government control over them. Laws against hate speech already exist in many countries, and India is one of them; however, implementation is commonly feeble, and statutory definitions may not be clear, or even adequate. Platforms are inconsistent in dealing with hate comments, and a lot of them are not caught.

Some governments and organizations are trying an alternative to harsh censorship: counterspeech: responding to hate with empathy or corrections to the facts. A 2021 study conducted at ETH Zurich showed that the empathy-based counter speech is capable of countering hate speech, but only to a moderate degree. Nevertheless, this type of intervention is not common and systematic yet.

These hate messages actually produce real-life consequences to the victims, causing anxieties, depressions, and insecurities- even in the non-digital space. The most impacted people are usually those in marginalized groups and the psychological effects and aftermath can be long-term.

A combination of personal frustration, hard personality characteristics, social contagion, and the enabling atmosphere of online anonymity contribute to the mindset of hate comments. Despite the promising results of some of the interventions, there is a lot left to do on the platform and policy level. To students, teachers and policy makers, these triggers and mindsets are what they should understand to create healthier communities online.   

Social media hate comments are increasing day by day; it is now a necessity to educate people, make strict laws, and have control over such unethical practices to  prevent social, personal, and national harm.

As a parent, you have likely realized that career trends are changing rapidly. The times when the only prestigious options were doctor, engineer, or government officer are long behind. With more than 700 million Indians now having access to the internet and digital applications such as YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook being household words, a slew of digital careers has presented themselves to the next generation.

However, is your child truly future-career-ready? It is time to examine what and what is not required, and which are the careers in the field or social media that are not only in fashion but also in terms of potential growth and returns that they will yield.

What you Need: Skills and Attitudes in Social Media Professions

• Creativity and Communication: Regardless of what you want to do in the digital industry, creativity and clear communication are core activities that lie at the center of any digital profession.
• Adaptability: The world of the internet evolves quickly. The most successful are the ones that are ready to consider new tools, trends (such as the short-form videos or AI-driven content) and formats.
• Technical Know-How: A basic understanding of digital knowledge including editing videos and learning to interpret analytical information is the only essential.
• Unity and Professionalism: Rare are people who become successful overnight. Making a brand, be it personal or commercial is time consuming and requires discipline and professionalism. 
• Relatable and Personalised Approach: For anything to go viral on social media, relatability and personalisation is needed. All the new and old content creators and social media figures who  are earning well have ensured that they are highly relatable and are adhering to UGC (user generated content). 

Top Social Media Careers for the Future

Here are some of the most promising and high-return social media careers one can pursue to be relevant in the future and be not replaced by AI: 

Social Media Career Myths

“Social media careers do not exist.” 

This is no longer the case. In India, the occupation of the social media worker has become one of the most rapidly developed and well-paid in the digital economy.

“Only the celebs can make it.”

There is a blistering boom in the number of local creators and niche specialists today, driving huge followings and gaining a solid income even without any of the Bollywood fame.

“It is an entertainment business.”

The social media careers that exist today consist of news, education, finance, health, etc. and this is not a comedy, but real, influential work that is found online.

“Social Media Content Creation is a hobby not a profession” 

The era has changed; once what was considered a hobby is now an actual profession that pays well. 

What Can Parents Do To Help Their Child?

1. Encourage Skill-Building: Encourage your child to engage in content development, video editing, or social media internship.
2. Encourage Digital Literacy: Instruct them on internet security, copyright and safe online conduct.
3. Stay Informed: Watch webinars, read the trends, and consult with industry experts.
4. Balance: Though digital professions sound very bright, they do require good preparation in communication, ethics and time management.

The prospects are not imaginary as the social media environment in India booms. Provided he is creative, flexible and enthusiastic, a work with social media will be not only gratifying but also future-proof. Your interest as a parent is to advise, assist, and remain receptive to the new options that the universe of digital engages.

Keep in mind that the future lies in the hands of people who are willing to learn, evolve, and invent. So, let your child pursue a future-career by staying relevant, creative, and adaptable.

Sometimes what a legal appeal can’t do, a viral video on social media can.  Well, that is what recently happened in Kerala, when a 4-years-old-boy named Shanku shared a sweet, straightforward, heartfelt plea on social media that got the ears of the whole state, and even the government officials. It is an epitome of how powerful content on social media is, and of how a viral appeal by Shanku resulted in a healthier, more diverse menu being served to thousands of Anganwadi children in Kerala.

Shanku (whose official name is Trijal S Sundhar) is a small boy in Kerala and, similar to other children, he goes to his nearby Anganwadi, a government-operated centre, which offers basic education, nutrition, and health services to children below the age of six years. It so happened that one day Shanku made an innocent complaint about the monotonous food at his Anganwadi, which was captured on camera by his mother while he was eating egg biryani at home. In the video, he requested a change in the menu saying that instead of upma there should be biriyani, as he got bored of having the same food daily.

His mother, Aswathy Ashok, who recorded the video and posted on instagram said that, "Shanku doesn't like upma and his favourite food is porridge and black-eyed pea. Upma was being served in the anganwadi daily and he developed a hatred towards it.” She also said that the video wasn’t a deliberate one but shot and posted just for fun without any expectation of it going viral on the platform. 

The most interesting thing about this was the innocent face that Shanku made and how he spoke on behalf of soooo many other kids that felt the same but would never say it aloud. His video has become viral on social media, thousands of people shared and agreed with his request. 

Veena George, the Minister for Women and Child Development in Kerala, responded to the viral video of Shanku instantly. She did not brush it aside but realized the need to listen to the voices of children. The department quickly looked at the Anganwadi food menu and decided to change it in a way that would help all children and not only Shanku.

In a few days, the state government has declared a revised ‘model food menu’. The new menu announced at the state-level inauguration of Anganwadis’ Praveshanolsavam in Pathanamthitta is  more diverse, healthy, and tasty, which will ensure that children enjoy their meals and are well nourished. Though the staple foods such as rice, pulses and vegetables are still there, the menu has:

• Additional seasonal vegetables and fruits
• Breakfast diversity.
• Addition of local and child friendly meals
• Improved meal rotation to prevent boredom
• Egg biryani and pulav

The modifications have been made considering the suggestions of nutritionists so that the food can be both delicious and nutritious. The government further undertaken to continue reviewing the menu; depending on children and parental feedback.

Anganwadi means much more than a learning and playing place to many children in Kerala, as it is their source of daily nutrition. Having a dull menu that is repetitive may cause the children to lose interest in food thus becoming poorly nourished. With the variety, the government expects to:

1. Enhance the diet of children
2. Turn mealtimes into fun
3. Promote higher attendance at Anganwadis

This move is also a reminder that sometimes, children’s feedback can be the most honest and valuable. And also, listening to them is good sometimes because the children will know best what they want to eat, right?

Shanku’s biryani video is an inspiring instagram viral video example of how even the smallest voices can bring about big changes. It shows that children should be heard, and that they should be part of the decision making process that affects their day to day lives. The fast and favourable reaction of the Kerala government is an excellent example to be followed by other states and departments.

When you ever think that your voice is not important, think of Shanku. His modest request did not only transform the food that he ate but it also provided thousands of children in Kerala with better food. Isn’t it intriguing to know how simple it can be to put forward a humble request and the people in authority listen to it. 

Social media is indeed becoming powerful day after day; let’s use its power correctly and change our country for good. 

Watching the news after a disaster, a crime, or a tragedy is so overwhelming at times that we either turn off the tv or avoid talking about it. The images and words can linger in the mind, sometimes making us anxious or even helpless… because what can we do?! Now, think about the people directly involved…the survivors, the families, the witnesses and all the others affected by it. For them, the impact is much deeper. This is where the concept of trauma-informed journalism comes in. Because India has a lot of sensitive cases, it’s becoming important for Indian journalists today to be skilled in this type of journalism. 

What is Trauma-Informed Journalism?

Trauma-informed Journalism is a new term that is starting to gain recognition. It is a practice that originated from the medical community in which being trauma-informed implies knowing that trauma is common and all humans have gone through it at certain points of their lives. However, this type of journalism means to understand the trauma, the perspective of the survivor after that trauma, and knowing how the impact of the coverage will be after you, a journalist, will leave them alone. 

What Is Its Importance in India?

From natural disasters to conflicts between groups of people, and the ongoing issues faced by the poor, Indians have experienced a lot of trauma. How these stories are told can make someone feel better or can make their condition worse. Worrying events in the news may bring fear, sadness, and PTSD-like symptoms to everyone, not only to those who experienced the troubles. For journalists, facing serious risk is a common part of their jobs. According to a study by American Psychological Association, 2023, the majority of journalists may be exposed to distressing circumstances at work, which raises their chance of feeling anxious, depressed, and burnt out.

The Difference That Trauma-Informed Journalism Makes

• Empathy First: Empathy is the main focus in trauma-informed journalism. It gives respect and dignity to survivors and looks at the incident as what took place, not at any possible faults of the survivor.
• Avoiding Re-traumatization: It is important for journalists to ensure that survivors are not questioned in ways that make them recall their trauma.
• Presenting the Truth Fairly: When reporters recognize how trauma works, their stories are more truthful and follow ethics, helping the public trust them.

This highlights another concern, that is, the journalist itself being traumatised. If the news is grave and harsh for even the strongest human to process, it can affect the journalist. So what can be done? If journalists know their emotional limits and schedule breaks, they can keep themselves from feeling the negative effects of their jobs. Also, this will help prioritise mental health in journalism. 

Tips for Indian Journalists

1. Take Some Time to Get Yourself Ready to Report: Make sure you understand trauma and what it causes before starting to help those who went through it.
2. Ensure There is a Safe Environment: Make each interview similar and safe, and give survivors the chance to set rules.
3. Provide Clear Instructions: Whenever covering sensitive subjects, inform your readers so they know when and how to read the information.
4. Practice Self-care: Taking care of one’s mental health, getting support, and enjoying breaks are important for journalists.
5. Concentrate on finding solutions: If you can, choose stories about rebounds and victories instead of focusing only on misery.

Trauma-informed reporting has become popular worldwide, and Indian newsrooms are quickly starting to adopt it. As journalists become more knowledgeable and empathetic with additional training, they are less likely to harm the subjects of their stories. Because India is complex and diverse, the adoption of this method could help society become more empathetic, knowledgeable, and stable.

If you are an aspiring journalist, take note of this, adhere to this new skill, and practice trauma-informed journalism as per the needs of Indian society. Because ethical news coverage in India is vital, trauma-informed journalism is coming up as the future of Indian News. 

So, if you aspire to be a positive change and have a rewarding career, consider pursuing journalism courses in India. For free career counselling, connect with us @ 08035018499 or visit the GMCET official portal https://gmcet.org/.

If you want a career in media, hold on tight, because the battle between Musk and Trump is providing useful lessons on how social media can influence fame instantly. What began as a strong friendship between two global leaders has now turned into a fierce battle on social media, with every post and tweet causing a stir in news and digital spaces. However, is this true transparency, or are we all exposed to each other’s sharpest criticism?

What Led to Musk-Trump Conflict?

Not so long ago, Elon Musk and Donald Trump were perceived as being very close. As per Forbes, Musk spent over $200 to help Trump get elected, which led to him (perhaps) being rewarded with the position of DOGE, head of the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk’s and Trump’s good relationship came to an end quickly with the introduction of the tax and spending bill. As per the tweet, Musk and Trump are in a new rift over the “Big, Beautiful” tax bill that Musk called a “disgusting abomination”.

Without hesitation, Musk shared his views on Twitter, attacked Trump’s policies, shared old Trump tweets on how huge the deficit was, and hinted at the need for impeachment. He stated that the “Epstein files” contain Trump’s name even when he presented no evidence for his claim, increasing the spread of speculation. This tweet literally fanned the fire of conspiracy theories. 

Not hesitating to respond, Trump used his Truth Social platform. He also said that he’d asked Musk to leave the administration, accused him of having “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” and threatened to cut off federal contracts that Musk’s companies, like SpaceX and Starlink, possess. Additionally, once Trump called Musk “one of our great brains” and earlier this week commented, “he just went crazy.” The drama got everyone’s attention and turned into the main conversation trending on all platforms.

Media professionals and students are learning from this real-life example how social media can have both good and bad effects. Since Musk has such a wide reach, he is able to affect public opinions, get people behind an idea or start a battle at any time. Using the power of the White House and over 6.3 million followers on Truth Social, Trump fights back with his own forms of digital fighting. The result? An argument in public that involves more than policy but also boils down to who will shape the public narrative.

This kind of transparency is not the same as what we usually mean by the term. Actually, it can feel like walking on dangerous ground because every post is full of risks. One wrong move, one loose remark and the world on the internet is ready to react. An influencer said, “This is the most exciting day on X in years,” but for those involved, it underlines that social media can be harsh as well as impressive.

What Are People Talking About?

The public is showing strong excitement about the whole thing. People engage in discussions, polls and threads on X to talk about every detail from the feud. A number of users feel Musk deserves praise for his boldness and taking on politics. Others argue that Musk is only acting out of self-interest and abandoning Trump. Experts and journalists are referring to it as “the digital fight of the decade,” and they are worried about the results of online attacks.

Various commentators are observing that the situation combines the personal and the political in a way never seen before. The consensus? The line between transparency and toxicity in social media is razor-thin! 

What Should Media Aspirants Bear in Mind? 

This raises questions for those who are starting out as journalists, PR professionals and online storytellers. The ongoing Musk-Trump feud demonstrates that social media now plays a major role in public opinions, political fights and achievements between big brands. Everything you say online is locked away, every single comment is carefully examined, and the opinions of the crowd never shut off.

If media is your desired field, bear this in mind: honesty goes hand in hand with responsibility. Every user gets to express their views on X and Truth Social, yet these platforms can inflame events and cause more drama. Viral marketing has a high potential for success, but it also carries a big risk of criticism.

Are we witnessing openness or simply more layers to the fence? The feud between Musk and Trump shows how today’s media operates. By 2025, social media acts as both a stage and a battlefield, where what seems transparent can easily hurt its users. To those pursuing a career in media, it’s important to master new devices, honor the impact of your words and know that every post you write could leave a mark: positive or negative.