On a recent Tuesday, the social media platform X was flooded with a peculiar phrase that rapidly gained momentum and evolved into a viral trend: ‘What’s wrong with India.’ By evening, this trend had accumulated over 2.5 lakh posts, including participation from the government’s citizen engagement portal MyGovIndia.
But what triggered this sudden surge in online discussions, and what significance does ‘What’s wrong with India’ carry? The genesis of this trend can be traced back to a disturbing incident that took place just 10 days ago in Dumka, Jharkhand, where a Spanish tourist was subjected to a horrifying gang rape.
Understandably, the news of this appalling crime sparked widespread outrage across social media platforms, with many individuals sharing their own unsettling experiences while traveling in India.
However, amidst this outpouring of concern and condemnation, certain accounts took the opportunity to tarnish India’s reputation, portraying the country negatively by insinuating that such incidents were commonplace.
These dubious posts often accompanied the provocative phrase ‘What’s wrong with India,’ amplifying their visibility and reach across the platform. As the trend gained momentum, some observant social media users in India began to notice a curious trend: the algorithm on X seemed to disproportionately promote posts containing the controversial phrase, leading to speculation about potential bias or manipulation.
In response, users took it upon themselves to debunk the perceived agenda behind the trend. Armed with images and videos showcasing similar incidents from other countries, they juxtaposed these visuals with the question ‘What’s wrong with India,’ aiming to underscore the flaws in the platform’s algorithm and its susceptibility to promoting anti-India content. Have a look at some reactions here:
What's wrong with India? pic.twitter.com/uOfvXOcBYH
— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) March 12, 2024
#WhatsWrongWithIndia
Before you say about my India .Look at you pic.twitter.com/bzRgDOztXW— hemraj dhanawat (@hemrajdhanawat) March 13, 2024
What's Wrong With Indiaš®š³#WhatsWrongWithIndia #WhatsWrongWithIndians
Elon Musk To Indian
Le : Indian š pic.twitter.com/zXrMzWVw1o— All India Students Dental Association/DENTODONTICS (@dentodontics) March 13, 2024
WHAT'S WRONG WITH INDIA
India is unsafe for women š¤” #WhatsWrongWithIndia #UkraineRussiaWarpic.twitter.com/0u3gXYQed9— anurag (@anuragkarnal13) March 13, 2024
WHAT'S WRONG WITH INDIA?
Its so unsafe for tourist..?
Watch till end and decide…#WhatsWrongWithIndia pic.twitter.com/hhlEKmXVLY— Ramsa Chaudhary (@Ramkishor_jaat_) March 13, 2024
WHAT'S WRONG WITH INDIA Why are Indians like this? š¤®š¤® #WhatsWrongWithIndia #UkraineRussiaWar pic.twitter.com/cUFUiIrXd3
— anurag (@anuragkarnal13) March 13, 2024
What's wrong with India?
Indian streets are full of drug addicts š¤® pic.twitter.com/WDsy43QlZS— Anup soniyo (@Anup_soni_100) March 12, 2024
OMG what's wrong with india, a subhooman taking bath in metro cause there are no bathrooms, truly a 3rd world country. pic.twitter.com/q3w1C22My9
— Bhai Havertz š“āŖ (@artofwenger) March 12, 2024
What's wrong with India?
Why are Indians so unhygienic? Doing shit everywhere. š®š³š¤® pic.twitter.com/SZqclC3mg7— Param|PCS š®š³ (@FunMauji) March 12, 2024
From depictions of public defecation and bathing in Western countries to sarcastic commentary on societal norms, Indian X users cleverly employed satire and irony to challenge the narrative perpetuated by the trending hashtag. Despite originating from accounts with relatively modest followings, these posts garnered significant engagement, with likes and comments pouring in at an unprecedented rate.