- Where do we draw the line?
By Nethmi Dissanayake
These days, it is not uncommon to see people doing anything ‘for the gram’ and other social media platforms. From posting near-naked pictures to dangerous pranks, private chats, funny videos, or even videos depicting violence, the internet is full of people working very hard to be popular and possibly earn money from it.
As social media has become more and more popular, so too has chasing fame on social media. In the pursuit of fame and followers, the line between right and wrong often gets blurred.
Recently, shocking footage from Sri Lanka made rounds on the internet, enraging many social media users. The video shows a man harassing a wild elephant in the middle of the night on a road near a forest. He spotted the elephant while driving on an empty road at night. He then deliberately chased the elephant, who clearly seemed scared, with his car, capturing the experience on video to share on TikTok.
While we’re not sure exactly where and when this happened, it is believed that this incident took place somewhere on the A6 road between Habarana and Trincomalee. The fact that it happened, however, is indisputable. It has gone viral and made a splash in the worst way.
There is no shortage of clout-chasers on the internet and this particular TikTok user appears to be one of them. However, irresponsible content like this often, in addition to receiving unwelcome backlash both locally and internationally, can also see the hard work of other content creators become undermined and undervalued.
The most prevalent form of backlash to this particular piece of content has come from animal welfarists and activists, who, especially when it comes to elephants, have been actively campaigning for better treatment of the animals across Sri Lanka, within and without our national parks and protected areas.
Created at a time when the Human-Elephant Conflict is at an all-time high with over 350 elephants dying per year at human hands, this particular piece of content emphasises the need for sensitivity when dealing with all wildlife, and mindful reflection on the impact of our actions.
Shedding light on a larger issue
Rally for Animal Rights and Environment (RARE) Communication Coordinator Panchali Panapitiya spoke to Brunch about this issue and the impact such behaviour has on animals.
“It was very shocking to see the video of a Sri Lankan harassing an elephant – especially so because the jeep was driven by a young Sri Lankan,” Panapitiya said, adding: “There were many things wrong about this video. When humans attack elephants with vehicles this way, elephants will recognise vehicles and humans as threats and it could cause elephants to attack vehicles and humans in future.”
Stressing the need for peaceful co-existence, Panapitiya said: “Humans and elephants both have equal rights to live in Sri Lanka. We, humans, are nothing but one species out of millions of other species on planet earth. What we see here is man violating the right of elephants to live in their habitat in peace. It is sad that the young man was not educated enough to understand this and that qualities of sympathy, empathy, compassion, and respect for the freedom of others have not been cultivated in him from childhood.”
Panpaitiya also added that in her view, the driver’s behaviour also showed a lack of respect for his own safety with no consideration for how much risk he was putting himself in should the elephant have reacted aggressively and attacked.
Panapitiya also called for the young Sri Lankan in question to be punished, saying: “Now we hear that the man was offering a night safari for money. He definitely must be punished. This amounts to animal cruelty and is an offence under the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance as he was posing a threat to the elephant’s life. Elephants are classified as endangered species. There are great efforts being taken for their conservation.”
Citing a lack of knowledge and awareness for the cause of such reckless behaviour, Panapitiya added that this incident only served to highlight the need for measures to be taken. “Along with the enforcement of laws, it’s important that conservation, animal rights and welfare areas be taught as a compulsory subject in schools so that we avoid incidents like this in future.”
Social media has the power to drive positive change
Aside from highlighting the need for increased respect towards wildlife, this incident has also raised questions on the limits people go to in the name of creating content, whether for professional reasons or otherwise. Brunch also chatted with digital creator Shenelle Rodrigo, whose content focuses on travelling around Sri Lanka and appreciating its beauty, on how she manages boundaries when it comes to creating content.
“First and foremost, I don’t think that this person should be called a ‘content creator’ just because he has a public TikTok account,” Rodrigo noted. “This is just one such example of people harassing animals that has come to light thanks to this person sharing it on his own social media. This sort of behaviour can be seen in many parts of the island, and it would be wrong to assume that this was done purely for the sake of ‘social media hype’. The truth is this happens on a daily basis and is a much larger issue than content creators crossing boundaries.”
Rodrigo added that when it came to boundaries in creating content, all creators tend to follow a few unspoken rules. “Not harming or disturbing animals for your gain is a pretty obvious one and you don’t have to be a content creator to know that or follow that rule,” she said, noting: “Both animals and human beings need to co-exist in this world. As much as this is our world, this is their world too, and I also believe that social media can play a positive role in highlighting this fact to people who may not be aware or exposed to this perspective. As more people like this insensitive kid get highlighted and shamed on social media, I hope it’ll make more people aware of what the issue actually is, and why it should not be done, either on or off social media.”
Echoing some of Panapitiya’s sentiments, Rodrigo too spoke of the role education plays, saying: “This is a much larger issue seen around the country purely due to lack of education and awareness. Whilst steps need to be taken by the respective authorities to enlighten all stakeholders on the importance of protecting and preserving our wildlife and environment, social media and those who have a large reach also do have the ability to address this issue and set the correct trends to dissuade others from following suit.”
Always be mindful of your surroundings and seek permission first
Achintha Jayasinghe and Chathri Sahabandu, better known as ‘wandering_unicorns’ on Instagram, spoke to Brunch about how they restrain themselves from crossing the line.
“One of the main reasons why we don’t make travel content related to wildlife is because I feel like when we go into those national parks we are invading these animals’ homes and disturbing their peace,” Sahabandu shared, adding: “Of course, there are some photographers and creators who do it in a respectful manner, but I don’t think that’s the case in most scenarios. Speaking of this particular video that caught everyone’s attention, I think he did it purely for the views. That is why I personally didn’t even share it because that means giving him more attention and bringing him in more views.”
Speaking of TikTok and what leads people to make content irresponsibly, Sahabandu commented: “TikTok is a platform where anyone can post anything and sometimes people trend for all the wrong reasons. As a result of that, anyone can become a viral sensation and they interpret their negative popularity as a positive thing. TikTok generally involves fun dances and videos but every now and then such videos emerge and the app’s eyeball-seeking algorithm makes it difficult for these harmful videos and trends to be nipped in the bud before they are sprawled across the internet.”
Sahabandu also spoke about how she and her husband approach creating content to stay respectful. “When we create content we always obtain permission, be it from the hotel premises or anywhere else. Respecting people’s opinions and not posting anything offensive towards any culture or religion are some boundaries and principles my husband and I follow. We always try to show the true value of the place we are featuring and show the beauty and luxurious hospitality of our country. Also, some advice I would like to give young content creators is to always be mindful of your surroundings and seek permission first. Stick to your core principles. Don’t run behind likes and views, be authentic and true to yourself, then you’ll create magic without having to offend anyone or harm innocent creatures.”
Social media is a digital community
Today, the big social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and others are teeming with inspirational achievers and content creators who go the extra mile to share their stories, inspire people, and drive positive change through their work.
Of course, the flip side of social media is that many young people who use these platforms focus their lives around likes, comments, followers, and subscribers, with the mindset being ‘more, more, more!’ They start valuing their social media ‘friends,’ go to unimaginable extents to keep them entertained, often forgetting their own lives, values and principles. Regardless of whether their minds are prepared for the kind of exposure that goes with large social media followings, social media exposes them to the best and worst things about the world – from issues and causes to basic human nature.
However, through mindful content creators and content, the younger generations using these platforms can be taught to see their access to social media as an opportunity to grow rather than a competition for likes and be inspired to work harder not just to achieve their goals but to do so responsibly. Social media and the digital space is first and foremost a community, and so, social media users in general must set appropriate boundaries for themselves and be mindful of what they put out into that community, because any community is the sum of its parts.
