What's Wrong With India?' Trends on X as Netizens Share Images and Videos Spotting Issues in Other Countries
In recent days, the hashtag ‘What’s wrong with India?’ has been trending on social media. Initially, foreign social media users started this trend to criticize India. However, it later turned into a movement as Indian users used the same hashtag to call out the hypocrisy and double standards of the foreign users and media.
A coordinated online campaign orchestrated by foreign social media accounts aims to portray India negatively, focusing on social and civic issues. The campaign targets and mocks the country for various challenges, including issues like disregard for lane discipline and traffic signals, breaking of rules and queues, public urination, food habits, the presence of homeless individuals on crowded streets, instances of eve-teasing, drunk driving, fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, and drug users in dimly lit corners of the streets, among others. These issues, common to many countries worldwide, are selectively used by critics to create a disparaging image of India.
Indian Social Media Users Cracked X.com's Algorithm
Indian Social Media Users have recently discovered that the algorithm used by X.com seems to have a bias against India. They claim that the algorithm promotes posts that spread negative propaganda against India and target its people, leading to an increase in negative narratives about Indians. Then Indian social media users taking charge of the situation and shedding light on the important questions raised regarding the criticism India faces from Western or developed countries worldwide. The trend of disparaging posts with the question ‘What’s wrong with India?’ is a good opportunity for Indians to showcase the problems faced by every country, regardless of its socio-economic conditions, historical traditions, and social ethos. By sharing videos from outside India, X users have shown that no country is perfect, and each of them is facing unique challenges. It’s important to remember that criticism should be constructive and not merely an effort to diminish or humiliate a country.
Indian Government Also Reacted To The Viral Trend
Earlier today, The official handle of the citizen engagement platform of the Government of India, @MyGovIndia, tweeted with the caption, “What’s wrong with India?” In the tweet, @MyGovIndia shared pictures of four news reports that highlighted recent achievements of the country.
The Israel Embassy in India Also Joined The Viral Trend
The Israel Embassy in India also joined the viral trend “What’s wrong with India?” by creating a video where their diplomats are seen “spilling chai” on the trend. The 57-second-long video ends with an unexpected twist when the last guy said “Rakhi Sawant” after being asked, “WHAT’S WRONG WITH INDIA?” . In the video, a person asks the Israeli ambassador, “Ambassador, what’s wrong with India?” To which he responds by saying, “You soft-landed on the Moon. We crashed.” Another woman adds, “There are too many beautiful places to visit.” Another person mentions, “So many good songs to listen to,” and yet another adds, “so many amazing Bollywood movies, I don’t know how to finish them all” as answers to the question.” at the end, there was a twist. When asked the same question the last diplomat responds, “Rakhi Sawant!” Then he looked at two photographs of the model actor pinned on his desk and says, “Why did you choose Adil? I am right here”. The video was posted on the social media platform X by the Israel Embassy.
