The English word ‘status’ has several meanings in Malayalam, depending on the context. It may mean position, condition, standard, social standing or state. Accordingly, there is social status, health status, current status and status as a symbol of prestige. In this age of the overwhelming spread of social media, the word status has gained immense popularity. On WhatsApp and Instagram, we post and view status updates, turning our everyday situations into occasions for display. Such is the direction in which things have moved that even the question, “Don’t you have a status?” carries an entirely different meaning today.
In reality, a status is both a form of silent observation and a form of self-display. Behind the habit of checking WhatsApp statuses lies the human mind’s subtle curiosity and pleasure in discovering the circumstances of others. There are people who habitually search for others’ statuses. Their purpose is to find out what someone is doing. At the same time, a status is also an attempt to let others know about one’s achievements and successes, coupled with the quiet display that says, “I have accomplished something,” even without stating it outright. I post a status; you view it every day. Even if nothing is explicitly communicated or acknowledged, a clear form of communication takes place. Today, WhatsApp statuses have become an easy and cost-free medium for publicising one’s achievements.
There are also people who regularly post their personal situations as status updates. Things have changed to such an extent that one can often gauge the quality of a person’s life and even understand aspects of their mindset simply by looking at their status updates. Likewise, there are those who, after posting a status, check every few minutes to see whether anyone has viewed it. More important than WhatsApp statuses, however, is having a meaningful status in life itself. WhatsApp statuses last only for a limited period of time, whereas the status we hold in life is not so temporary. Therefore, strive to preserve your true status in life.
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