When we talk about workplace pressure, it is easy to think of it as just a personal problem. But today, the media, like TV news, TikTok, and LinkedIn, play a significant role in how pressure is perceived. Every day, millions of people wake up, put on a brave face, and go to work. On social media, people love to show off how busy they are, posting pictures of their late-night coffee cups or talk about working on the weekend. This creates a bad habit where being exhausted is treated like a prize.
The media also acts like a megaphone when things go terribly wrong. For example, when a young call center worker named Gcina Dhladhla tragically passed away at the Cartrack offices in Johannesburg, the company might have wanted to keep it quiet. But because of social media, the news went viral instantly. People on platforms like X (Twitter) and TikTok demanded answers, revealing further just how modern media can force big companies to face real stories and discuss employee health.
Once a story breaks, the media connects people who are suffering from similar pressures. After the Cartrack tragedy, thousands of South Africans went online to share their own scary stories. For instance, some shared videos while driving to work suffering from a high fever, terrified of being fired or labeled “lazy” by their managers. Without apps like TikTok or Facebook, these workers would feel completely alone. Digital media helps us see that if workers are afraid to take a day off because of illness, the system itself is broken.
Audio from the deceased’s family: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSQPFkgR9/
The media is also helping to break down dangerous cultural stereotypes. For a long time, TV shows and advertisements celebrated the image of the “strong Black woman” who can handle everything without ever crying or asking for help. Today, Black creators and writers online are using their platforms to fight this stereotype. They are posting videos explaining that this expectation is actually harmful and showing that it is okay for Black women to say, “I am tired, I am struggling, and I need to take a break.”
In the end, all these online videos, news articles, and social media posts are teaching us a valuable lesson: human lives matter more than company targets. A business cannot run without the real people who give it their time and energy. Guarding a worker’s health is not just a nice thing to do; it is mandatory. No one should have to risk their life or hide their pain just to keep a job. Thanks to the power of the internet and media, workers are finally finding their voices to say that enough is enough.
