In a world that’s increasingly interconnected and where news spreads rapidly through social media, it’s rare to see two events that elicit such different responses from the public and the media. Such was the case when a submersible carrying five wealthy tourists went missing while attempting to explore the wreckage of the Titanic. The incident has garnered worldwide media attention and sparked a range of conflicting emotional responses on social media platforms.
In contrast, a boat carrying hundreds of migrants recently sank off the coast of Greece, resulting in 81 fatalities. However, this incident failed to capture the attention of the media or the public. Social media users were quick to criticize the hypocrisy and indifference shown towards the migrant tragedy, while the missing submersible dominated the headlines.
American actor and producer John Cusack remarked on the stark contrast in media coverage and attention given to these events. He tweeted, All I can think is refugees capsize no one cares – some billionaires on joy rides go missing – it seems like multiple navies are instantly searching -.
Another Twitter user commented on the sad irony of the situation, stating, The sad hypocrisy of our world. A submarine expedition garners worldwide attention for a few missing billionaires who could not abstain themselves from ‘exploring’ the remains of the Titanic while a drowned boat filled with brown and black migrants receives barely any attention.
As the news of the submersible dominates the airwaves around the world, many have begun to question the priorities and values of our society. The fact that a group of wealthy tourists can receive such immense media attention while thousands of refugees and migrants are dying in obscurity highlights the deep-rooted inequalities and injustices in our world.
Some have even gone so far as to suggest that our global society has become so focused on wealth and prestige that we’ve lost sight of the basic values and principles that define us as human beings. The submersible incident and the migrant tragedy serve as a stark reminder of the challenges we face as a global community and the need to address them with empathy and compassion.