Within four hours of the incident occurring, the average smartphone user in Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru had seen the video—not because they searched for it, but because WhatsApp forwards, Telegram channels, and X (Twitter) algorithms decided they needed to see it.
Social media platforms are not neutral town squares. They are outrage amplifiers. When a violent video goes viral, the algorithm does not see tragedy; it sees high time-on-screen . Users pause to squint at the horror. The platform rewards that pause by showing the video to more people. Let’s not pretend the audience is passive. There is a dark psychology to the "Jaipur video" trend.
Last week, that clip came from Jaipur.
Mainstream news channels (TV and digital) initially refused to show the graphic visuals. They used blurred stills and pixelated mosaics. They followed the Information Technology Rules, 2021, which discourage the display of disturbing content without context.
Within four hours of the incident occurring, the average smartphone user in Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru had seen the video—not because they searched for it, but because WhatsApp forwards, Telegram channels, and X (Twitter) algorithms decided they needed to see it.
Social media platforms are not neutral town squares. They are outrage amplifiers. When a violent video goes viral, the algorithm does not see tragedy; it sees high time-on-screen . Users pause to squint at the horror. The platform rewards that pause by showing the video to more people. Let’s not pretend the audience is passive. There is a dark psychology to the "Jaipur video" trend.
Last week, that clip came from Jaipur.
Mainstream news channels (TV and digital) initially refused to show the graphic visuals. They used blurred stills and pixelated mosaics. They followed the Information Technology Rules, 2021, which discourage the display of disturbing content without context.
