Monkey see monkey do is an idiom that means people tend to imitate the actions of others, often without fully understanding the reasons or consequences behind those actions. It highlights a tendency to mimic or copy behavior, rather than think independently. The phrase is often used to describe situations where individuals or groups blindly follow trends, fads, or the actions of those they admire and perceive as leaders.
I have been noticing this trend, which I refer to as “Wi-Fi Worship”, among people I know, and it simply appalls me when it isn’t amusing me. I came across a post by Aneesh Bhatt on LinkedIn and felt that he had put my thoughts into words. My post is inspired by his.
Once upon a time, temples had gods. Now they have ring lights and Wi-Fi.
People log in every morning, heads bowed, not in prayer, but in scrolling. The new deities are people who wouldn’t give us the time of day in real life but will toss us a heart emoji if we behave.
The rituals are simple:
You like post. You repost post. You share post. Not before you comment, “You are an inspiration,Sir!” You repeat their words like holy chants. Original thought? Ah, blasphemy!
I see it every day, the I-am-here-to-please and please-notice-me crowd.
A business magnate posts a “life-changing” smoothie recipe. Next thing you know, half their timeline is blending spinach at 6 a.m., posting selfies with captions about “detoxing mind and body.” Ask them what they were detoxing from, and the answer is usually “umm?”
A celebrity posts about their new 5 a.m. meditation practice. The next morning, people who couldn’t wake up for a flight to Goa are suddenly “embracing the stillness before sunrise” complete with a filtered shot of the sky that was taken last winter.
If their media Gods write a book, people buy it without glancing at the blurb.
If they launch a product, it is immediately added to the cart.
If they declare that chewing kale while doing a headstand is the secret to eternal youth, there will be a national shortage of neck braces by the weekend.
Social media is the new darbar. We are the courtiers- liking, commenting, sharing, applauding, and waiting for a royal ‘like’ in return.
Every “So true!” is a veneration.
Every “Love this!” is a garland offering.
Proximity feels like privilege, and mimicry passes for wisdom. And somewhere in this kingdom, the crown is made of notifications, and the applause is measured in clicks.
Monkey see. Monkey do. Monkey waits for likes.
And here’s the comedy, your social media Gods aren’t watching you. They’re too busy making their next post for you to fawn over.
The tragedy? We’ve convinced ourselves that thinking is dangerous, but agreeing is safe. That silence means irrelevance. That value comes from being seen near the “important” people, even if all you’re doing is holding their digital handbag.
But here’s the unfiltered truth: You don’t grow by echoing someone else’s life. You grow by disagreeing, questioning, experimenting, and even failing. By doing things without announcing them first. By letting your curiosity lead instead of being led by a follower count.
Maybe you are better than they are. Maybe you know more than you give yourself credit for. But perhaps you just haven’t unlocked it yet, because you’ve been too focused on the world outside, when the clarity you seek is quietly waiting within you. It’s time to stop doubting and start discovering what you are truly capable of.
So maybe, just maybe, put down the smoothie, step away from the ring light, and think your own thoughts. Risk not fitting in. Risk the awkward pause when nobody claps. Because true worship is not in copying someone else’s path. It is in walking your own, even if the road is quiet.
You can throw glitter on a puddle, and it will sparkle for a while. But step in it, and you’ll still get your shoes wet.
Monkeys may dance for attention, but only the Lion rules the jungle.
This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.
You’re so awesome! I don’t believe I have read a single thing like that before. So great to find someone with some original thoughts on this topic. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a little originality!
I totally feel the frustration when scrolling becomes a ritual and everybody’s just parroting the same “life-hacks”, smoothie trends or motivational quotes without even pausing to think. People should question, experiment, and find their own voice instead of echoing someone else’s.
It is so irritating when I see people not only follow ‘hacks’ or ‘cures’ but also compelled to encourage others to follow without substantiating the claims. You have said something that I always wanted to say. Follow only after judging for yourself or cross check the claims. In this age of misinformation and AI, consuming social media needs to be mindful.
This is such a relevant topic, and you have expressed it so well. If you make the scrollers and the “Gods” read, they will only turn up their noses. Couch potato was coined for the TV viewer, and idiot box for the TV. There should be Monkey See, Monkey Scroll, and Monkey Do names too. People have stopped using their grey cells. They blindly take social media posts as the gospel truth. I feel the internet should be banned, and we should go back to the pre-Internet era. Only then all can be well.
Social media gods are created for our consumption and we’re vain to follow them blindly. Every celebrity who ‘swears by’ a face serum, a health drink or a wellness brand is paid handsomely to do so. It’s upon us to see through and follow only what suits us. Loved the puddle line in the end. Well said!
You had me in splits and then nodding all the way through to the end. I don’t follow trends at all, I find social media gimmicks exhausting. I realised this after many experiments and the lies that these marketing people with their sponsored posts spread. I’ve taken my own path, slow and joyful. But yes, social media durbars rise and fall with every algorithm shift.
This made me pause and think about how much of what we do online is just automatic. It is indeed an everyday reality now that we often scroll, like, and mimic without even thinking.
You are so right. We often forget to think critically when we blindly follow trends. This can be observed especially for trending songs for reels…some have such inappropriate lyrics, but people still use those just because those are trending.
You said it !
These inspirational post, pictures and influencers are honestly bordering on boredom! Nothing new , nothing truly inspirational.
We’ve convinced ourselves that thinking is dangerous, but agreeing is safe.
This line is so true, and so are many other observations you’ve made across the article. We’re so busy and yet so lazy; we simply mimic and get on as that’s the easiest thing to do. All because we’ve forgotten to think.
Woah that was extremely thought-provoking and introspective. I really started thinking about my patterns and loops I might be stuck inside!
This post brilliantly captures the quiet chaos of digital habits and unconscious imitation I loved how relatable and reflective your observations felt It gently nudges readers to pause rethink scrolling patterns and become more mindful of how online behaviour shapes everyday thoughts and actions
This is so apt for the current time. People who couldn’t find time to heal suddenly have all the time for a routine and give feedback?