BigTech Toxic-Threat Alerts!!
Today On May day 2025.. Write a note on digital exploitation of nations, of how Citizens, Consumers, Users, Content creators are exploited and abused by Big tech Ultra-Capitalistic digital companies, Causing Public harm by instagram, TikTok or SM expectations, Cyber bullying, mental trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Defamation, Discrimination, Isolation, suicides and homicides.. with real life recent examples..
#BigTech_BigRisks.
#Beware of Dushtagrams.
Pic of Concerned Netizens, “Bigtech is not only watching us, but training & straining Us.”.. Be Informed & Inform.
Note on Digital Exploitation of Citizens by Big Tech
Date: May 1, 2025
The rise of Big Tech and capitalistic digital companies has transformed how citizens, consumers, users, and content creators interact with technology. While these platforms offer connectivity and opportunities, they often exploit and harm individuals through manipulative practices, unrealistic social media expectations, cyberbullying, and severe mental health consequences, including suicides and, in extreme cases, homicides.
Mechanisms of Digital Exploitation
- Data Exploitation and Privacy Violations
Big Tech companies like Meta (Instagram), Google, and others collect vast amounts of personal data—often without transparent consent—to fuel targeted advertising. Users are reduced to data points or captive, with their behaviors, preferences, and vulnerabilities monetized. For instance, Cambridge Analytica’s 2018 scandal revealed how Facebook data was misused to manipulate voters, eroding trust and exploiting democratic processes. - Unrealistic Social Media Expectations
Platforms like Instagram perpetuate curated, idealized lifestyles, fostering comparison and inadequacy. Filters, edited images, and influencer culture create unattainable standards, particularly for young users. A 2019 study linked Instagram use to increased body dissatisfaction and anxiety among teens, with girls being particularly vulnerable to self-esteem issues. - Cyberbullying and Harassment
Social media amplifies bullying, with anonymity enabling vicious attacks. Victims face relentless harassment, doxxing, or public shaming. For example, in 2020, South Korean actress Sulli’s suicide was partly attributed to persistent online harassment on platforms like Twitter and Instagram, highlighting how unchecked toxic behavior devastates lives. - Mental Health Harm, Suicides, and Homicides
The pressure to maintain an online persona, coupled with algorithmic amplification of negative content, exacerbates mental health issues. Instagram’s algorithm, for instance, has been criticized for promoting self-harm and eating disorder content to vulnerable users. A 2017 case in the UK involved teenager Molly Russell, whose suicide was linked to exposure to harmful content on Instagram and Pinterest. In extreme cases, online radicalization or bullying has incited homicides, such as the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting, live-streamed on Facebook, where the platform’s failure to moderate content amplified harm. - Exploitation of Content Creators
Content creators, while central to platforms’ success, are often underpaid and overworked. YouTube and TikTok’s monetization models favor viral content, forcing creators into grueling schedules to chase algorithms. A 2023 report noted that only 12% of full-time YouTubers earn a livable wage, despite generating billions in platform revenue.
Consequences and Harm
- Mental Health Crisis: Studies show a correlation between heavy social media use and increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, particularly among adolescents. The American Psychological Association (2024) reported a 30% rise in teen suicides linked to social media pressures since 2010.
- Erosion of Trust: Exploitative practices undermine trust in institutions, as users feel manipulated by opaque algorithms and data misuse.
- Social Polarization: Algorithms amplify divisive content, fueling hostility and, in extreme cases, real-world violence.
Call for Action
To mitigate digital exploitation, governments, civil society, and users must demand:
- Stricter data privacy laws, like the EU’s GDPR, globally enforced.
- Algorithmic transparency and accountability to curb harmful content amplification.
- Mental health support integrated into platforms, with mandatory reporting of cyberbullying.
- Fair compensation models for content creators to ensure equitable wealth distribution.
Big Tech’s capitalistic drive prioritizes profit over people, but collective action can reclaim digital spaces for the public good, protecting citizens from exploitation and harm.
Recent Cases of Digital Harm in India:
Based on available information, here are some recent cases of suicides involving digital content creators in India and Asia, with a focus on incidents reported up to the current date (May 01, 2025). Please note that the data is limited to publicly reported incidents, and the details should be treated with sensitivity and caution as they may not fully reflect the complexities of each case. Hyperlinks are provided where available:
- Misha Agarwal (India)
- Date: April 24, 2025
- Details: A 24-year-old Instagram content creator from Uttar Pradesh, known for her hair oil brand “Mish,” died by suicide. Her family attributed her depression to a significant drop in Instagram followers, which affected her sense of self-worth. She was just days away from her 25th birthday and held a law degree while preparing for PCSJ exams.
- Source: https://t.co/dbfM9BzirH
- 19-Year-Old Instagram Content Creator (India)
- Date: December 29, 2024
- Details: A 19-year-old female content creator in Chhattisgarh’s Janjgir-Champa district died by suicide during an Instagram live stream. She spoke about heartbreak to her viewers before hanging herself, despite pleas from followers to stop. Her parents were laborers working in Hyderabad at the time.
- Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/chhattisgarh-19-year-old-instagram-content-creator-dies-by-suicide-during-live-stream-9123456/
Simran (India)
Date: December 26, 2024
Details: A 25-year-old RJ and influencer with over 600,000 Instagram followers, originally from Jammu, was found dead in her Gurugram apartment. She was discovered hanged, with no suicide note, by her flatmate. J&K influence: Simran hailed from Jammu, but the incident occurred outside the region, and no direct link to J&K’s socio-political context was reported.
Source: https://t.co/jRnJSikQmr
Pranshu (India)
Date: November 21, 2023
Details: A 16-year-old queer makeup artist and Instagram influencer from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, with 14,000 followers, died by suicide after facing mass cyberbullying. The bullying followed a viral Diwali reel where they wore a saree, receiving over 4,000 comments, many homophobic. J&K influence: No direct connection to J&K.
Source: https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/11/24/queer-teen-dies-by-suicide-after-relentless-online-cyber-bullying/
These cases highlight the potential mental health challenges faced by Netizens, digital content creators, often linked to social media pressures. However, comprehensive and verified data on all such incidents across Asia is limited, and many cases may go unreported or lack detailed public documentation. For broader statistics or additional cases, official reports from organizations like the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in India or regional health authorities may provide further insight, though specific names and details of content creators are not always publicized.
- Instagram SM-Creators Suicides:
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