iWorld
Awkward silence as Awkward Goat’s X account gets pulled down
MUMBAI: When the influencer known as Awkward Goat disappeared from X this week, it set off a storm of speculation. Her real name is Divija Bhasin, a counselling psychologist-turned-content creator and while the exact reason for her suspension remains unconfirmed, the timing coincides with a heated controversy around her recent “Proud R-word” campaign.
Bhasin’s campaign sought to reclaim the slur “randi” (a word historically used to degrade women, including sex workers) by calling herself “a proud randi,” a move that sparked widespread backlash. Critics argued that her reclamation effort trivialises the word’s painful history.
At least one complainant has filed a First Information Report (FIR), alleging that Bhasin’s campaign influenced minors to adopt the slur in their social media bios.
Bhasin responded defiantly: “If I go to jail … I’ll happily go if it means people will finally start taking verbal abuse against women seriously.”
Though she’s built a significant following as a mental health advocate Forbes India ranked her among its top digital creators. Bhasin has also drawn criticism over whether she is sufficiently qualified. Some social media users have challenged her use of the title “psychologist,” alleging she misrepresents her credentials.
She’s also been accused of blocking critics, including those who say she spreads “inaccuracy and misinformation” in her psychology-related content.
This isn’t Bhasin’s first run-in with public outrage. Earlier, she floated unconventional views on marriage refusing to wear sindoor or mangalsutra, not taking her husband’s surname, and describing her relationship on her own terms.
That video too drew both praise and criticism, with some lauding her modern take and others rebuking her for what they saw as an intentional provocation.
While X (formerly Twitter) has not confirmed the reason behind the suspension, some observers link it to the backlash surrounding her “Proud R-word” activism. The legal complaints, especially relating to minors and a sensitive slur, align with a volatile moment in her public journey. Others speculate it could be a content moderation move, or even linked to mass reporting campaigns.
Why It Matters
. Influencer accountability: Bhasin’s story raises bigger questions about influencers reclaiming controversial language, and where the line lies between empowerment and harm.
. Platform responsibility: Whether the suspension is for policy violations or reputational damage, it highlights how platforms like X handle creator conduct amid public outcry.
. Mental health discourse: As a self-identified psychologist, Bhasin’s run-ins reflect the tension between influencer content and professional responsibility. Critics argue that her provocative style undermines trust in mental health advice.
. Social activism vs. backlash: The episode demonstrates how social movements can erupt but also combust when rooted in reclaimed words that carry deep historical trauma.
For now, Divija Bhasin has not publicly confirmed why her X account was suspended. Whether the “Proud R-word” controversy is directly linked remains unverified, but the convergence of backlash, legal pressure, and platform penalties has made this one of the most widely watched influencer controversies in recent months.
iWorld
Meta plans 8,000 layoffs in new AI-led restructuring wave
First phase from May 20 may cut 10 per cent workforce amid AI pivot.
MUMBAI: At Meta, the future may be artificial but the cuts are very real. The social media giant is reportedly preparing a fresh round of layoffs, with an initial wave expected to impact around 8,000 employees as it doubles down on its artificial intelligence ambitions. According to a Reuters report, the first phase of job cuts is slated to begin on May 20, targeting roughly 10 per cent of Meta’s global workforce. With nearly 79,000 employees on its rolls as of December 31, the move marks one of the company’s most significant workforce reductions in recent years.
And this may only be the beginning. Sources indicate that additional layoffs are being planned for the second half of the year, although the scale and timing remain fluid, likely to be shaped by how Meta’s AI capabilities evolve in the coming months. Earlier reports had suggested that total cuts in 2026 could reach 20 per cent or more of its workforce.
The restructuring comes as chief executive Mark Zuckerberg continues to steer the company towards an AI-first operating model, committing hundreds of billions of dollars to the transition. Internally, this shift is already visible: teams within Reality Labs have been reorganised, engineers have been moved into a newly formed Applied AI unit, and a Meta Small Business division has been created to align with broader structural changes.
The trend is hardly isolated. Across the tech sector, companies are trimming headcount while investing aggressively in automation. Amazon, for instance, has reportedly cut around 30,000 corporate roles nearly 10 per cent of its white-collar workforce citing efficiency gains driven by AI. Data from Layoffs.fyi shows over 73,000 tech employees have already lost jobs this year, compared with 153,000 in all of 2024.
For Meta, the move echoes its earlier “year of efficiency” in 2022–23, when about 21,000 roles were eliminated amid slowing growth and market pressures. This time, however, the backdrop is different. The company is financially stronger, generating over $200 billion in revenue and $60 billion in profit last year, with shares up 3.68 per cent year-to-date though still below last summer’s peak.
That contrast underlines the shift underway. These layoffs are less about survival and more about reinvention. As Meta restructures itself around AI from autonomous coding agents to advanced machine learning systems, the question is no longer whether the company will change, but how many roles will be left unchanged when it does.
