Went out for some grocery shopping yesterday evening in Bangalore. It was eerie not seeing the lights on the storefronts, very few people on the streets, everyone wearing masks… Felt like I was living in a movie, and not a happy one at that.

It’s probably the first time that a worldwide pandemic or a war-like situation has risen, where most everyone can still enjoy a good quality of life. Unlike other times, in today’s age we have round the clock electricity, garbage disposal, fast internet, streaming music, movie and TV shows on demand, essentials delivery to door.

If there’s one thing I would like to see change in such a situation, it’s the news. Vast majority of the news seems corrupt, lazy, or attention grabbing. Rather than simply informing people, it’s making them anxious and addicted to the news.

People, of course, have a choice in choosing what to watch or engage in. But they are being gamed, and they don’t realise it.

The software must change too. People are gullible, and the communication platforms (WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) make almost no effort in stemming misinformation and people’s addictive behaviour. It’s capitalism at its worst.