Conversely, the darker side of social media reared its head through voyeurism and clickbait culture. YouTube channels and gossip blogs capitalized on the trending keyword, using sensationalist thumbnails and misleading titles to drive traffic. This leeching off a celebrity’s name for algorithmic relevance is a common tactic in the South Indian film media ecosystem, often referred to as "YouTube diaries" culture.
It is impossible to discuss viral videos of actresses today without addressing the looming threat of deepfakes. In recent years, several top actresses have been victims of AI-generated morphed videos. While the specifics of the Simran incident varied across platforms, the discussion invariably touched upon the vulnerability of public figures to digital manipulation. This sparked a secondary wave of discussion Actress Simran mms scandal