‘Instead of people, follow ideas on social media’

Motivational guru and techie forever Ankur Warikoo says that not much will change for social media this year, but what we will realise beyond doubt is that it’s about learning, not flaunting

Ankur Warikoo

I have always seen technology as an enabler, something that can have a positive influence on our lives. This perception about technology was shaped when I went to America in 2002 to study astronomy. The Internet was just starting up; there wasn’t even Gmail then, only Hotmail. It was here that I got exposed to technology and its limitless access. I was sitting in my room in freezing Michigan and remote controlling a telescope in Chile. I was watching the stars without leaving my bed. It was here that I realised what technology has to offer.

As we head into 2022, after a few years of intense discussion on how social media affects us negatively, I think it’s very important to change that narrative. The key lies in this very famous and powerful quote: “We are the average of the first five people we spend time with”. This goes to say, choose your friends wisely, and spend time with the right colleagues. But the social media boom of the last few years has meant that we have all been spending time with people we don’t know. I’d say, be mindful of the ideas you follow, and hence, the people you follow on social media. If you follow a gorgeous fashion influencer, but can’t look like him or her, you may end up feeling terrible about yourself. But if you follow a person who’s inspiring, that will make a difference. This person may not give you solutions, but may offer you hope. This is the conscious decision everyone has to take. What SM platforms have done is democraticise the world, and opened it up. So, choose wisely.

I, as a creator, am careful about what I put out there. When people trust a creator’s words, the responsibility is greater. I don’t say anything that can hurt someone (notice that I didn’t use the word ‘offend’, but ‘hurt’). I try not to be prescriptive, which means I don’t give solutions based on my condition alone without bothering to know anything about my followers’ circumstances. I don’t talk about the what and how, but the why of things. And lastly, I don’t want to come across as a know-it-all. If I fumble, so be it. The best teachers are those who are still students.

The social media landscape may not change drastically in 2022, but the next five years are going to be crucial. If you are using social media, realise three things. Firstly, recognise the fact that, by design, it is created to generate emotions, but don’t believe that it is the right thing for you. Evade everything that it feeds you, and choose your own list.

Secondly, if you use it wisely, the opportunity it creates will be unparalleled. I have spent time with young people between 18 and 23, and I have learnt that whenever school or college has failed them, they turn to YouTube and learn it there—languages, information, news, coding. YouTube is the largest college in India right now. Learning doesn’t always happen in classrooms.
And lastly, don’t believe everything that you read on social media—it is meant to provoke, and titillate you. Realise that it’s most likely false, move ahead and find your own truth.

Ankur Warikoo is a serial entrepreneur, content creator and mentor to young businesses. He founded hyper local merchant listing company nearbuy.com in 2015. He is the author of the just-released title Do Epic Shit   

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