Viral videos allegedly showing people switching off nearby e-rickshaws using a mobile app have sparked conversations around cybersecurity but also around responsibility. While the claims remain unverified, the bigger concern is how a potential security vulnerability is being treated as entertainment instead of a public safety issue.
Somewhere, we started celebrating the wrong things.
Every now and then, the internet finds a new trend.
This time, it’s videos allegedly showing people using a mobile app to switch off nearby e-rickshaws and posting the reactions online. Whether these videos are entirely genuine is still unclear, and there has been no official confirmation from authorities or manufacturers.
But honestly, that’s not the part that worries me the most.
What worries me is how quickly people have looked at what could be a serious security issue and thought, “This will make a great reel.”
Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.
If the claims are true, this isn’t a funny trick or a clever hack. It’s a possible cybersecurity vulnerability.Think about it for a second. An e-rickshaw isn’t a gadget sitting on someone’s desk. It’s a vehicle carrying passengers, helping drivers earn a living, and getting people where they need to be.
Imagine someone on their way to a hospital. Or a child returning home from school. Or a driver trying to complete one last ride before the end of the day. Now imagine that vehicle stopping unexpectedly because someone wanted content. Suddenly, it doesn’t feel like a joke anymore.
Raising awareness is different from showing off.
Finding a flaw in technology isn’t the problem. In fact, identifying weaknesses is how better systems are built. The problem begins when exposing a vulnerability turns into showing people how “cool” it is to exploit it. The internet often blurs the line between awareness and entertainment. But they’re not the same thing. A genuine security flaw should lead to conversations with manufacturers, better safeguards, and quicker fixes not likes, comments, and copycats.
This is bigger than just e-rickshaws.
As more vehicles become connected through apps, Bluetooth, and smart systems, cybersecurity is no longer something that only concerns software companies. It concerns everyone who uses these vehicles. The conversation shouldn’t be about who can pull off the next viral stunt. It should be about how manufacturers can build safer systems and how users can act more responsibly.
Maybe it’s time we stop treating everything like content.
Social media has made us believe that everything is worth filming. But not every discovery needs to become a trend. Sometimes, the most responsible thing you can do is report a problem instead of broadcasting it. Because if a vulnerability is real, fixing it should be the goal, not turning it into entertainment.