by Vasundhara Pathak Masoodi
The artificial world of reels and the unchecked use of social media require regulation and accountability. The government must introduce appropriate legislation to prevent further social media-related tragedies.
Is it not astonishing to wake up in the morning and discover oneself trending on social media? Indeed, it is. But at what cost? Often, if not always, life-threatening stunts. It sounds horrific, yet this is the reality in the illusory world called “social media,” where numerous such accidents have been reported across the globe, including in various parts of India.
The hypnotic allure of becoming an overnight sensation has driven certain vulnerable individuals, particularly the youth, to engage in either deeply immoral behaviour or dangerously audacious stunts. These include taking selfies in perilous locations, standing upright on a moving motorbike, scaling skyscrapers, leaning from moving trains or dancing atop speeding cars. Such acts are not only capable of provoking chills and discomfort but also serve as a potent thrill for certain viewers, making this hazardous content widely popular.
The craving, rather, the greed for more likes, followers, views, subscriptions, and comments, along with potential advertising revenue, becomes a stimulant for a dopamine surge so intense that even life itself seems a trivial price.
The relentless pressure to remain relevant and attuned to current trends often leads to anxiety and depression. More disturbingly, even a minor decline in views, likes, or followers can result in devastating outcomes, including suicide. In their pursuit of validation and gratification, many influencers willingly cross into dangerous territory, indifferent to the consequences that may follow.
Public behaviour and opinion are significantly shaped and influenced by social media trends. Sensational content tends to generate heightened curiosity and excitement, frequently going viral in an instant. Algorithms play a crucial role in this rapid spread, meticulously engineered to increase engagement and maximise impact. This calculated amplification transforms a fleeting spectacle into a seismic event capable of shifting public attention and emotion.
In this unhinged race to accumulate likes, followers, and views, several influencers and content creators have risked their lives, some fatally. In many cases, recklessness while creating social media content, especially for Instagram reels, led to irreversible loss, with no regard for basic safety measures.
In January 2016, a twenty-year-old named Abhishek Gupta lost his balance and slipped onto a boulder after climbing to the top of Reasi Fort in an attempt to take a selfie.
In April 2023, a girl aged seventeen died after being struck by a train between Budgam and Srinagar junction while taking a selfie. A year later, in April 2024, Misha Aggarwal, a well-known social media influencer, took her own life, unable to bear the pressure following a decline in her followers. In July 2024, Aanvi Kamdar, a twenty-seven-year-old travel influencer, fell to her death from a height of three hundred feet into a gorge while filming a reel at Kumbhe Waterfall, located nearly eighty miles from Mumbai.
In April 2025, a woman drowned in the river Ganga at Uttarkashi’s Manikarnika Ghat while attempting to pose for a photograph or a reel. More recently, Renna O’Rourke, a nineteen-year-old woman from Tempe, Arizona, died of cardiac arrest after attempting the hazardous “dusting” or “chroming” challenge, a viral trend circulating on social media platforms.
The pursuit of validation and recognition on social media may have become routine, but when it turns into compulsion, the consequences can be severe. Relying entirely on virtual approval to measure creativity or self-worth mirrors the grip of gambling and other addictive behaviours. These platforms stimulate the brain in a manner that generates rapid surges of pleasure, much like other forms of instant gratification.
In the scramble to remain visible, some content creators begin to compete by mocking, insulting or attacking others, often under the guise of humour, a practice commonly known online as “roasting.” This behaviour is not without consequence, as it influences engagement and metrics.
Those who experience success tend to push further, constantly raising the stakes to maintain momentum. However, the same metrics that elevate one person can bring another crashing down. When followers or views decline, many find themselves unable to cope, resorting to extreme actions under the weight of expectation and perceived failure.
Experts believe that the constant pressure to preserve the sanctity and validation of social media is taking a significant toll on the mental and physical health of individuals who have tethered their lives to platforms such as Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. These individuals face recurring episodes of anxiety, hallucinations and depression each time their follower count rises or falls.
While social media remains an important medium for sharing views, promoting work and showcasing creativity, problems arise when the objective shifts to gaining attention or popularity alone. In such cases, users frequently resort to unethical and unhealthy tactics to make their content go viral. A platform originally intended to foster opportunity, constructive dialogue and meaningful connection is increasingly being misused in ways that yield damaging outcomes.
Although platforms have introduced community guidelines, rules and warnings, they continue to struggle in monitoring and curbing harmful, dangerous and hateful content. Enforcement remains largely ineffective due to inconsistent policies and the speed at which undesirable material spreads.
The artificial world of reels and the unchecked use of social media require regulation and accountability. The government must introduce appropriate legislation to prevent further social media-related tragedies. In addition, all stakeholders, including parents, teachers, peers, schools, colleagues and institutions, must initiate conversations aimed at building awareness.
There is an urgent need to create an environment in which people understand that the promise of quick fame and success in the virtual realm is deceptive. It is a fleeting illusion that must never come at the cost of a human life.
(The author is a practising advocate at the Supreme Court of India and former Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir State Commission for Women and Child Rights. Ideas are personal.)
