Instagram video sparks online hostility for Indian student in Canada

PTC News Desk: In recent days, Mehul Prajapati, a 26-year-old student at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, Canada, has found himself at the center of a whirlwind of online controversy, resulting in the closure of all his social media accounts.

The catalyst for this storm was a seemingly innocuous Instagram video in which Prajapati offered advice to fellow university students on how to make the most of local food banks. Little did he know that this act of goodwill would thrust him into a maelstrom of misinformation and social media outrage.

this guy has a job as a bank data scientist for @TD_Canada, a position that averages $98,000 per year, and proudly uploaded this video showing how much “free food” he gets from charity food banks.

you don’t hate them enough. pic.twitter.com/mUIGQnlYu6 — pagliacci the hated ???? (@Slatzism) April 20, 2024

In the now-deleted video, Prajapati, clad in a Laurier sweater, encouraged students to utilise food banks, emphasising that it had helped him save significant sums on food and groceries each month. However, this seemingly well-intentioned message was quickly misconstrued by online users, who began questioning the ethics of students availing themselves of free food resources to save money.

The situation escalated rapidly as the video gained traction on various social media platforms, including TikTok and Reddit. False rumors began to circulate, alleging that Prajapati was a data analyst at TD Bank earning an annual salary of $98,000—a claim that was promptly refuted. It was revealed that Prajapati had completed a 17-week internship at the bank, which concluded in December 2023.

Despite this, headlines in both Indian and Canadian media outlets falsely suggested that he had been "sacked" by the bank—an assertion that TD Bank unequivocally denied.

As the online vitriol intensified, with Prajapati becoming the target of relentless cyberbullying and harassment, Wilfrid Laurier University stepped in to offer support. The university's dean of students pledged to address the situation directly with Prajapati, condemning the malicious attacks directed at him as "harmful and unfounded."

Meanwhile, Prajapati, who is also a talented musician, found himself besieged by the negative fallout from the controversy. Fearing for his safety and overwhelmed by the barrage of online abuse, he made the difficult decision to deactivate all his social media accounts. Reflecting on the ordeal, he lamented the ease with which false narratives can spread online, tarnishing reputations and causing irreparable harm.

In a statement to Moneycontrol, Prajapati shared his perspective, emphasising that his intention in making the video had been to inform fellow students facing food insecurity about the available support options. He acknowledged the harsh reality of navigating the internet's "dark side," where truth often takes a backseat to sensationalism and misinformation.

Despite the trauma inflicted by this experience, Prajapati remains resolute in his belief that genuine understanding and empathy are essential in combating the perils of online misinformation.

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- With inputs from agencies