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 in collaboration with Mads’ Cookhouse.
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!