The recent incident involving singer Papon kissing a minor girl on the sets of a reality show called Voice India Kids has sparked yet another debate on Social Media. Television channels and social media enthusiasts have jumped the gun to pronounce him guilty and a pervert already.

The social media has become like a Kangaroo court where people pronounce judgement based on mob mentality. I often wonder why we Indians react emotionally without logical and rational thinking. Make judgements without understanding the issue. I am not saying that he is not guilty, but if there is a video which shows that he has committed a crime, let’s push for his arrest through a legal course. Our legal system works on the principle that no one is guilty or innocent until proved in the court of law. We need to stop judging events just on the basis of how they appear on the social media.

When the video went viral, and the media started reporting on the same, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Maharashtra State Government ordered a separate probe into the matter. Let’s ensure that it is a free and fair investigation before pronouncing him guilty already.

I was scrolling through some comments on my Twitter feed, and I could see that there is a large group of people calling him a pervert and a child molester. In a video, the minor girl says that Papon didn’t do anything with a wrong intention. She said, “He kissed me like he would kiss his own child. My mother and my father also kiss me lovingly, so there is nothing wrong with it,” but social media users don’t seem to buy it.

This is the same mob mentality which brands anyone accused of rape, a rapist, some of them go to the extent of slandering one’s family and friends. If it’s proven that a person was wrongly accused, their reputation is lost forever. Social media is a powerful tool which can make a star out of anyone, and it can similarly destroy someone’s life and career. Let’s use the platform to make a difference in the society and have a civil debate on important issues than jumping on every piece of news to pass unnecessary judgements.

Just remember, a tweet can ruin a life!