Tag: India’s Got Latent

‘Regulate Social Media to Make it a Boon, Instead of The Bane’

By LokMarg

Suvarna and Souvik Ghosh, parents of child influencers Aarav and Eshna Ghosh, discuss the risks of explicit content in public domain and its impact on young minds. Their views:

The controversy that has erupted over the explicit comments made by a popular YouTube content creator on a top live show recently has sent shockwaves throughout the country. Parents and guardians of young children are questioning the credibility and credence of such content creators who have reached celebrity status over the years through their mass-followed podcasts and online shows.

Consider some of our top social media influencers for instance – many boast a YouTube following of as many as 10 million subscribers and average many million more in viewership for each of their shows and podcasts. While some of them interview people from various walks of life, some discuss stock markets whereas some others discuss detailed studies on geopolitics. What is important here is to note that many of these millions of viewers are possibly children or teenagers – impressionable young minds who consider these influencers role models.

However, do we as parents really understand what drives the social media industry and their celebrity content creators? It is views, likes and comments and the ability to influence millions with just a five-minute video! While it could be argued that many creators and influencers are disseminating useful information or educated opinions on various topics, there are those who also resort to explicit comments or vulgar language just to grab eyeballs and additional viewers.

For the benefit of doubt, even if the usage of such language is not being done to gain additional viewers, it is downright immoral and at the very least, massively irresponsible. That is because their ability to reach millions of eyes and minds with everything they do should ideally inculcate a stronger sense of responsibility and accountability in them.

ALSO READ: ‘Ranveer Must Reflect On The Gravity Of His Comments’

Tomorrow, if an eleven-year-old, who watched the latest episode of India’s Got Latent asks uncomfortable questions to his/her parents based on the obscene and vulgar statements heard on the recent episode or discusses such subjects with his/her friends at school, who will really take accountability for this? Our children are after all our responsibility, and we simply cannot allow them to be brainwashed by such content that is being freely floated online.

Social media, be it Meta, Whatsapp or YouTube, is considered to be a boon in the Internet age. We all have unlimited access to information as do our young children. We can constructively absorb knowledge and learn about many new facts, events and opinions through social media. However, this implies that social media has an invisible power over us. The influencers and content creators on social media can mould our next generation in a myriad number of ways – some positive and some not so much. Hence, we need to be wary and careful about the content our younger ones consume and probably set boundaries on who or what they are allowed to follow.

There are no perfect solutions to this but it could well be argued that we keep social media access limited to channels that truly help our children – educative content that help them in their scholarly journey (such as @Peekaboo_Kidz , @AwesomeMaths and @KhanAcademy or help them face challenges. And, of course continuously monitor who or what our children are following.

This is the only way we can make social media a boon instead of the bane

(The narrators’ children Aarav and Eshna Ghosh run a popular YouTube channel @smashingvids )

As told to Mamta Sharma

‘I Worry About Normalisation of Vulgar Comedy, Its Impact On Young Minds’

By LokMarg

Shubhangi Chaturvedi, a school teacher, wonders how racist, sexist, and even incestuous remarks can be passed off as comedy. Her views:

As a mother of two teenage daughters and a school teacher, I can’t help but feel deeply troubled by what my children—and so many others—are being exposed to on OTT platforms and social media. These platforms, designed to engage and entertain, often end up pushing explicit and inappropriate content, even to those who aren’t looking for it. And what’s worse? Instead of being called out, much of this content is celebrated, making it seem like the norm.

Every day, I see young minds being shaped by what they consume. Stand-up comedians and reality shows, like “India Got Latent,” throw around obscene language and controversial topics as if that’s the only way to make people laugh. Is this really what entertainment has come to? When did talent and intellect take a backseat to shock value and crude humour?

I worry about the effects of this normalization. When obscenity becomes comedy, when inappropriate jokes are brushed off as “just for laughs” our children start believing that these things are acceptable. They hear racist, sexist, and even incestuous remarks being made light of, and they absorb these messages, often without realizing it. Can we afford to let them grow up thinking this is okay?

Then there’s the alarming trend where the most extreme, controversial content brings in the highest views. It’s a race to the bottom—who can be the most shocking, the most outrageous? Instead of creating meaningful content, the focus has shifted to who can be the most offensive.

ALSO READ: ‘Ranveer Must Reflect On The Gravity Of His Joke’

The digital space, which could have been a source of education and inspiration, is now overrun with shows that glorify alcohol, adult relationships, and profanity. It makes me wonder: Are OTT platforms truly reflecting today’s India, or are they just cashing in on controversy?

As a teacher, I see the real-life consequences. My students pick up slang from these shows. They imitate behaviours that are far from appropriate. Parents try their best to control what their kids watch, but parental controls only go so far. Kids are smart; they find ways around them. And when their friends are watching the same things, it becomes even harder to shield them from it.

The responsibility can’t fall on parents alone. Content creators and OTT platforms need to step up and take accountability. There need to be stricter regulations and better content standards. Freedom of expression is important, but should it come at the cost of shaping a generation that normalizes vulgarity and disrespect?

It’s time we, as a society, take a hard look at what we’re supporting. Do we want our children to grow up in a world where success is measured by how controversial you can be? Or do we want them to have access to content that educates, inspires, and fosters real creativity? The choice is ours. But if we don’t act now, it’s the next generation that will pay the price.

As told to Deepti Sharma

‘Ranveer Must Reflect On The Gravity of His Words, Reconsider His Path’

By LokMarg

Smriti Jain, a Mumbai-based educator and a mother of two, shares her concerns at the obscene language used by standup comedians to garner instant popularity.

For the first time, I feel compelled to share my thoughts on something I recently encountered that left me deeply concerned. I am talking about the shocking remarks by popular YouTuber and influencer Ranveer Allahbadia and I feel it’s important to address them. I have occasionally watched his podcasts, especially when he has guests I admire.

I must admit here that whenever my children saw me watching his content, they would caution me, urging me not to subscribe or support his content. At that time, I dismissed their concerns, telling them not to judge people negatively. My views changed 1800 degree after hearing an unrefined question which he asked one of his show participants. As a parent I was both shocked and appalled. I could hardly believe my ears.

It is disheartening to witness how some people, driven by ego and arrogance, feel entitled to make such irresponsible, lewd statements. When someone’s sense of self-importance reaches the point of believing they own the world, it leads to behaviour that can be harmful to society. Ranveer is the same age as my son and I find it difficult to understand how he has achieved such success while holding such troubling views.

My hope is that this young man sincerely reflects on his actions, acknowledges his mistake, and reconsiders his path. It’s my belief that he should take time away from the public eye to truly understand the gravity of his words and actions. As a mother, I can only imagine the emotional toll this would have taken on his family, particularly his mother. I am genuinely curious about her perspective on this situation.

In my role as a school teacher, I often had the opportunity to engage with parents about their concerns. A question I heard repeatedly was, “Ma’am, how do I protect my child from the harmful effects of social media?” This concern is not isolated; it’s widespread. Given the influence social media personalities have over impressionable minds, I believe the government must take a firm stance on this issue.

ALSO READ: ‘Influencers Must Not Cross The Line, Audience Must Share The Blame’

Stronger regulations should be enforced to prevent the spread of harmful content, and we must demand greater accountability from social media influencers. Those who produce obscene material should face severe consequences, including fines and, in extreme cases, imprisonment.

Simply issuing an apology video, without real repercussions, is not enough. It would be injustice to the many families struggling to protect their children from this kind of content. The participants of shows like India’s Got Latent seem primarily concerned with their financial gain, but we must ask ourselves: What responsibility do we, as viewers, bear? What impact does our support have on our families, our nation, and ourselves?

To close, I’d like to leave you with a thought-provoking quote by Herman Melville: “We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibres connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibres, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.”

As told to Deepa Gupta