Sunday drama

It was a bright Sunday morning, and I was enjoying my chai while scrolling through Instagram. The night before, I had posted about accessibility in public spaces, sharing my experience as a wheelchair user and advocating for better infrastructure. I talked about the need for things like ramps, wider doorways, and elevators in public spaces like parks, malls, restaurants or even schools — simple changes that can make a big difference. These seemingly small modifications can significantly improve accessibility for people with disabilities.

As I went through the comments, most were supportive—people sharing their own experiences and agreeing that accessibility needed improvement. But then, my eyes landed on one comment that stood out from the rest:

“Stop playing the victim. No one owes you anything. Maybe you should just stay home if the world isn’t built for you.”

Ouch. I felt a familiar pang in my chest. No matter how many times I encountered such negativity, it still hurt. It wasn’t just about me; it was about the mindset that disabled people should simply accept exclusion rather than push for change. Old me would’ve typed out a paragraph-long clapback. New me? I sipped my chai and flipped the narrative.

Old me vs. new me

Instead of letting it ruin my day, I turned the comment into a caption. Yup, you read that right! I explained why making a case for accessibility isn’t about ‘playing the victim’—it’s about making sure everyone has the same opportunities to move around, have fun, and live their lives without barriers – whether you walk, roll or use support. I shared stories of the barriers disabled people face every day and why speaking up is necessary. The response? Pure love. People shared their own experiences, and we sparked a powerful conversation. Troll: 0, Empowerment: 100.

Flipping the script

That moment hit hard, but it also reminded me of something important: trolls thrive on drama, but I don’t have to give them the spotlight. Over time, I’ve cooked up some tried-and-tested hacks to keep my sanity intact while still speaking my truth. If online hate ever comes your way, here’s how to handle it like a pro:

1. Mute, block, repeat

You don’t owe anyone a response. Protect your peace. Instagram allows you to filter out offensive comments—use this feature to minimize exposure to hate. Blocking or restricting persistent trolls is a simple yet effective way to maintain a positive space.

2. Don’t feed the trolls

Trolls seek attention, and responding with anger often gives them exactly what they want. If you do engage, do so strategically—educate, correct misinformation, or simply state your point and move on. Sometimes, silence is the best answer. Without a reaction, they lose power.

3. Flip the script

Use hateful comments as fuel for important conversations. Address misconceptions and shed light on the real issues. Share how you rise above negativity—it can inspire others facing similar struggles. Your platform is yours; shape the discussion in a way that benefits your community.

4. Lean on Your Support System

Social media can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. Talk to friends, family, or fellow creators when negativity gets to you. Your online community is often your biggest cheerleader. Engage with those who uplift you.

5. Log off and breathe

If social media starts affecting your mental health, step away. Your well-being is more important than any online interaction. Curate your feed—follow accounts that inspire you and mute or unfollow those that drain your energy.

6. Remember your goal

For every troll, there are countless people who find value in your work. Focus on them. Your voice matters. The people who need to hear your message are out there, and they appreciate what you do.

That Sunday morning could have been ruined by a single hateful comment, but I chose to take control of the narrative. Being an influencer and a social advocate for disability rights means standing firm in my truth, no matter how loud the trolls try to be. At the end of the day, I know my purpose—and no amount of online hate can take that away from me.

Do you have anything on your mind? Share with us in the comment box below. Remember not to put any personal information in the comment box.

Send me a selfie but… 

Ronit and I used to chat on WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, and everywhere. Our daily ritual was to exchange cute goodnight selfies before bed. But one day, Ronit’s message shocked me. 

“Love, I need to see you without a top today,” he said. I was totally caught off guard and kept reading the text over and over. My mind was racing, and I couldn’t make sense of what Ronit was asking. Was he really serious? I couldn’t understand why he would ask for something like this out of the blue! 

I tried to convince myself that Ronit must be joking. “Nah! He’s just messing with me,” I muttered to myself. I texted him with a laughing emoji and said, “Come on, I know you’re kidding.” But to my surprise, Ronit quickly responded with, “No, no, I am serious. I want to see you topless, Ananya.”

Shocked and stunned

I was startled and didn’t know how to respond. So, I chose to step away from our chat and logged off. I needed some space to wrap my head around his request and figure out how to handle it. 

As I reflected on his request, I realised that I was not ready for such an intimate step in our relationship. I had only been with Ronit for two months, and I wanted to take things slowly. So, I mustered the courage to reply to him honestly. I explained to him that I wasn’t ready for this yet, and I felt we should wait. 

Ronit sent me a sad emoji. Then he went offline without any goodnight wishes or selfies. 

“No pressure?” 

The next day things felt awkward when I saw him. I couldn’t stop thinking about our conversation from the previous night. Ronit, on the other hand, acted as if last night hadn’t happened. He sat next to me not saying anything. So I asked him “What’s up?” He just replied with a hi! 

Curious, I asked him why he didn’t say goodnight, and he explained that he was a little upset because I suggested that we should wait before sharing those kinds of selfies. “It’s like you don’t trust me,” he said. 

I reassured him that I trusted him completely, but it was just something that made me feel uncomfortable. Ronit nodded and said, “No pressure”. 

Are things ok? 

The way our conversation ended last time, I thought things were okay between us. However, I did not receive any message from him at our usual time. I woke up feeling uneasy, wondering why Ronit was ignoring me. He had never done that before. Maybe he was busy or stuck in an unexpected situation. But as time went by and he still hadn’t reached out to me, I started to overthink. 

So, I sent him a sad emoji with a question mark, hoping for some kind of response. But I got nothing. It’s like my message vanished into thin air. 

Did I mess up by not sending those pictures? What if he breaks up with me?

I couldn’t shake off the feeling of dread that was building up inside me. At one point, I actually considered sending him that topless selfie. But it still felt wrong so I decided against it.

No trust in him? 

I left for college early the next day, determined to confront Ronit. I found him in the canteen and asked if we could talk. He nodded.

Taking a deep breath, I asked, “Why didn’t you reply to my texts? I sent almost 50. Were you out partying?” 

Ronit’s reply caught me off guard, “Yeah, I was at a friend’s place. I didn’t see your messages.”  

As tears welled up, I pressed on, “This hasn’t happened before. Was it because I said no?”

But he totally denied it and surprised me by saying, “No, Ananya, don’t make me out to be the bad guy. If you’re having doubts, maybe it’s best to end things.”

Fake love?

It was so obvious to me why Ronit was acting strange and why he broke up with me. I wasn’t a fool, I could see through it all. I was heartbroken and hurt. When I got home, I cried for hours. 

I couldn’t take it anymore and needed to talk to someone, so I confided in my cousin Shamita. 

After hearing everything, Shamita told me, “Broo, You made the right call not sharing those pics. Just like he went silent after you didn’t send them, maybe he would’ve done the same if you had. At least you stood your ground..”

“Trust me Ananya, it wasn’t true love if he had such a cheap and nasty demand. Someone who likes you would never put you in an uncomfortable situation like this. So, let that fake love go,” she added. 

As Shamita’s words sank in, I pulled her into a tight hug. A sense of comfort settled in me as I felt good about my decision and relieved that I could move on.

Shutterstock/Person in the photo is a model. Names changed

“To learn more about the topic, do check out this cool video :

Do you have anything on your mind? Share with us in the comment box below. Remember not to put any personal information in the comment box.

Remember, involving your parents or a trusted adult can be a crucial step in resolving these issues effectively.

1. Don’t blame yourself: Tia understood that trust is a fundamental part of any relationship, and her ex-boyfriend’s actions of sharing private content were a betrayal of that trust. If you’re in this situation, remember it’s not your fault. It’s important to talk to your parents or a trusted adult about what happened, as they can provide support and guidance.
2. Block the offender: Tia immediately blocked her ex-boyfriend on all social media platforms and her phone. If you’re facing this, do the same. This step is crucial for your mental well-being. 
3. Talking to parents/trusted adult: Approaching your parents or another trusted adult about a situation like this can be incredibly challenging. It’s natural to worry that they might react strongly or “freak out” when they learn about what’s happened. Understand that your parents may initially react with shock or anger – not towards you, but at the situation. It’s a natural protective instinct. Give them time to process the information However, it’s important to remember that they are likely to be your strongest allies and sources of support. If you feel that you absolutely cannot talk to your parents, find another adult you trust – maybe an aunt, uncle, teacher, or school counselor. They can offer support and might even help you talk to your parents about it.
4. Don’t hide any details: Share your feelings and the entire situation honestly. Hiding certain details, because you might be ashamed of them, can lead to complications later. Your parents or a trusted adult need the full context to help effectively.
5. Take a social media break: Feeling overwhelmed, Tia temporarily deactivated her social media accounts for some peace of mind. You might want to consider doing this too. Discuss with your parents or a guardian about this step and how it might help you.
6. It’s not the end: Tia talked to someone she trusted – her sister and her parents. They helped her see that this phase would pass. It’s essential to have a support system. Reach out to family members, friends, or even a counsellor for support.
7. Consider your next steps: Tia, with her parents’ guidance, deliberated on whether to confront the situation or to distance herself from it. This is a personal choice, and it’s crucial to discuss it with your parents or a trusted adult to weigh the options.
8. Legal action: Tia and her parents decided to consult with legal experts to understand their options. Remember, sharing intimate photos or videos without consent is a crime. If you’re considering this, involve your parents or guardians in the decision to approach the police or legal authorities.
9. Preserve evidence: Tia saved all the messages, emails, and screenshots as evidence, a step that saved her. We know it is a tough choice given all your messages will be read by someone else but that’s crucial if you want to take things forward legally. If you’re in this situation, do the same and keep everything in a secure place.
10. Report to online platforms: With her older brother’s help, Tia reported the content to social media platforms for removal. If you face this issue, report it immediately. Your parents or siblings can help with this process. You can write to Instagram/Facebook/YouTube and report this as a crime – they are known to take pretty strong action by taking the post down and banning the person who indulges in any such images of another person. For Facebook removal, click here, for Instagram, click here. YouTube also allows you to report abuse by this link.

You can also write to Google to remove the link from appearing in searches, check out here. Google can also remove your photo from online searches. Here is the link for that.

11. File an online complaint: Tia filed a complaint online with her parents’ assistance. If you’re uncomfortable going to the police, consider this option. Your parents can help navigate the process. Here is the link. The help is also available on Twitter through the handle Cyber Dost – Cyber-safety and Cybersecurity awareness handle maintained by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

The FIR is followed by an enquiry by the police to file a charge sheet.

12. Stay strong: Tia focused on her life beyond this incident, with support from friends and family. Remember, life has much more to offer. Lean on those who support you, including your parents, and know that this too shall pass.

It may feel difficult to believe this now, but your life always has more to offer. Be strong and lean on those who you have your back. Through Tia’s story, we see the importance of self-care, seeking support, and understanding your rights. Always remember, that involving your parents or a trusted adult can make a significant difference in handling such situations.

Photo: Pexels/Persons in the photo are models and their names have been changed. 

Do you have anything on your mind? Share with us in the comment box below. Remember not to put any personal information in the comment box.

To know more about being safe online, check out this video below :

With all the information that’s floating on the internet, we often absorb unverified advice that can harm us instead. Here are some ways you can verify it.

Check the source

 Who is giving that information? Is it a message or social media post with a website link? Ask yourself if the website or the media source is qualified to give you that advice. Prominent news websites publish news across themes. But if a social page with little credibility (check by a second round of googling about it), a parody website, a religious or spiritual resource, or one run by a pharmaceutical company, it should get your red flags up.

For example, a viral message circulating during the coronavirus pandemic claimed a false cure and attributed the info to BBC news. A simple google search will tell you that BBC published nothing of the sort. Type <claim>+<news website name>If the website’s name in the link doesn’t seem familiar, don’t click on it. It might direct you to a fraudulent website meant to steal your personal information. Google the website name and go to its ‘About us’ section to understand who runs it and what is its purpose.

Also, check out this really informative video – Internet has been interpreted below: ( article below video) 

Who is making the claim?

Often, a ‘forwarded’ message on WhatsApp or some post might claim seemingly impossible stuff – like a celebrity or an influencer died, or some free Robux ( currency used in a game) or Spotify membership if you download this! People like such freebies, hence get trapped into clicking those links. However, before you do so, check who is making the claim – is it only generic like “reliable sources” or does it name a particular person?
It’s not a good idea to trust this source simply. Google the named person and check whether they really are offering some free coupons. If there are not more than one or two mentions of this person online, and if you can’t find what website claimed that death, it might be a good idea to verify this news in other ways and not trust this source right away.

Did it make you go ‘wow!’ or ‘oh no!’

Hold on then. If a WhatsApp message or an Insta post makes a claim that’s too big, surprising or upsetting, (like a celeb’s death, some free coupons, free tickets to concerts etc) it should not be trusted without further checks. A major news organisation would certainly publish this information if it’s a major announcement on some ailment or a celebrity death.

Messaging style

 If the message is in ALL CAPS, contains many exclamation marks, is in multi-coloured text, has jumpy video or audio and dramatic audio-visual effects, or has poor grammar and sentence formation, it’s probably false. It probably needs a check if it’s a text quote with a person’s photo to suggest they gave that advice.

If there’s a still photo with audio of someone speaking and claiming that it’s a celebrity, some YouTuber or diet advice, it might be worth asking yourself why they are not shown saying that on video. However, one must remember that video proof is also not entirely reliable since technology enables many tricks such as a person’s lip movement could be synced to any audio. It might also be worthwhile to reverse search the shared images on Google.

If results show recent posts with the same information across several media sources, with the same person/expert or celebrity’s photo, it might at least confirm that it’s the same person who’s said it.

Fake-news-busting websites

 When you can’t verify a claim yourself and need help from an additional but reliable source, websites specialising in fact-checking, like Alt News, AFP FactCheck, AP Fact Check, BBC Reality Check and others, might be good sources to turn to.

Share it! (Don’t)

If a message stresses too much for you to share it or make it ‘viral’ then it is a reason to not trust it. A credible message speaks for itself instead of making appeals to be shared. Also, in general, develop a habit of not randomly forwarding messages, even if it feels like a helpful thing to do.

This is how most fake messages find high circulation. Most of us feel a message might help someone and share it and it keeps getting shared on and on. And suddenly a fake message is everywhere! If we can’t be sure of the message’s authenticity, it’s best to hold back. 

Photo: Shutterstock/Ollyy/Person in the photo is a model, names changed.

Do you have any questions that are bothering you? Share with us in the comments box below. Remember no rude words or personal information in the comment box!