While Chennai was grappling with the horror of a young woman’s sexual assault at Anna University—an atrocity perpetrated by a DMK cadre—Thanthi TV, a prominent Dravidianist media outlet, stooped to unimaginable depths with a tasteless social media poll. On 25 December 2024, the channel posted a poll asking followers to vote for their favorite “trending sister,” listing options such as “Tailor Akka,” “Devotional Akka,” “Gym Akka,” and “Yoga Akka.”
மக்கள் Review | இந்த ஆண்டு Trending ஆன அக்காக்களில் உங்களின் பக்கா ஆதரவு யாருக்கு?
— Thanthi TV (@ThanthiTV) December 25, 2024
This disgraceful poll, blatantly sexualizing the word “Akka” (sister), mirrors the objectification seen in the Hindi-speaking regions with terms like “Bhabhi.” The exploitation of a familial term to trivialize and fetishize women for engagement metrics has drawn widespread condemnation.
As if the poll itself wasn’t appalling enough, Thanthi TV doubled down on this indecency by publishing its results on 31 December 2024. The post proudly declared, “Number one among the trending sisters this year… (Based on a survey conducted on Thanthi TV’s social media pages. Total voters who participated – 1,83,378).”
மக்கள் Review | இந்த ஆண்டு Trending ஆன அக்காக்களில் நம்பர் ஒன் அக்கா…#மக்கள்Review2024 #ThanthiTVPoll #PollResult2024 #Rewind2024 #NewYear2025 #ThanthiTV
(தந்தி டிவியின் சமூக வலைத்தள பக்கங்களில் நடத்தப்பட்ட கருத்துக்கணிப்பின் அடிப்படையிலானது. இதில் பங்கேற்ற மொத்த… pic.twitter.com/4Os1tZHkhB
— Thanthi TV (@ThanthiTV) December 31, 2024
At a time when Tamil Nadu was mourning the violation of a young woman, Thanthi TV chose to indulge in this grotesque mockery. The poll not only trivialized women but also highlighted the alarming normalization of misogyny in mainstream media.
The sexualization of YouTube content creators, casually attaching “Akka” to their names, is a deplorable trend typically seen on low-tier social media platforms. For a mainstream news channel like Thanthi TV to adopt and amplify such vulgarity is an indictment of their journalistic standards—or lack thereof.
The timing of this poll, in the shadow of the Anna University sexual assault, points to a disturbing insensitivity to the pervasive issue of violence against women. Rather than using their platform to foster awareness or hold perpetrators accountable, Thanthi TV prioritized cheap engagement over integrity.
This episode reveals the depths to which sections of Tamil Nadu’s mainstream media have fallen, sacrificing decency for clicks and likes. Thanthi TV’s actions are a stark reminder of the urgent need for media accountability and a collective stand against the normalization of misogyny in public discourse.
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