How the obsession to document everything on Facebook is leading to rapes and suicides being streamed live

It seems we are obsessed with the need to document everything. Photo courtesy: Twitter/ PeterSweden

Last week, a woman was gang raped by three men in Sweden. The crime in itself is heinous, but to make matters worse her rapists live streamed the incident on Facebook. Needless to say, this unfortunate incident sent the Internet into a frenzy.

And this is not a one-off incident. In UK, 19-year-old Tracie Aldridge was sexually assaulted with a sweeping brush and it was streamed live on Snapchat.

Facebook, Snapchat, and the likes are our means for information and entertainment in this day and age. So naturally, we're grateful for all this technology.

But this advent of accessible tech also makes us wonder what are these modern inventions turning us into?

Undeniably social media has become a humongous part of our lives. We are quick to upload the pictures of scrumptious delights we eat, the picturesque locales we visit, and the funky stuff we buy. Not to mention the people we meet, live with, and go gallivanting with. It seems we are obsessed with the need to document everything happening in our lives.

So much so that now people are committing crimes, and even suicides, on social media thanks to features like Facebook Live!

In fact, reports of self-broadcasting of suicide are not very uncommon these days. Be it the bullied teenager, who bid adieu to her parents on Facebook live or the 19-year-old French woman, who recorded her suicide on Periscope--it seems people want the world to know everything.

Undeniably social media has become a humongous part of our lives. Photo: Shutterstock/ IndiaPicture

And that's where the problem lies. The thought behind it has little to do with sending across a message or sharing the sad realities of life. It probably stems from the fact that most people feel the instinctual need to record and share. And one incident instigates many others.

The irony is that while platforms like Facebook and Instagram are quick to remove posts and pictures documenting period blood on ground of obscenity, they fail to take action when it comes to live sexual assaults and suicides.

Also read: Why the hypocrisy Facebook? If men can bare nipples, why can't women?

With great technology, comes great responsibility. And the responsibility in this case lies with moderators of these social media giants. While we can't make the world a better place overnight, intervention in such sensitive situations by Facebook, Snapchat and the likes can perhaps save lives.

As far stopping such dangerous trends are concerned, well here's hoping that people are blessed with wisdom-and the knowledge that documenting the good and bad on Facebook is not a solution to anything. Live streaming a rape will get you caught (and thank God for that!).